Biogas: an all-rounder
Biogas: an all-rounder
Biogas is an all-rounder among re-
newable energies. It can be conver-
ted to electricity and heat or be used
as a fuel and natural gas equivalent.
Germany is the undisputed mar-
ket leader in this versatile and for-
wardlooking industry. Biogas plants
made in germany are in global de-
mand and are preferred because
of their superior technology. They
improve the independence and eco-
nomic strength of municipalities and
regions.
New opportunities for farming, industry and the environment 2015
The first part of Biogas: an all-
rounder contains important facts
and figures concerning biogas pro-
duction and use. The second part
introduces over 60 companies, from
full-line system suppliers to specia-
lised equipment manufacturers and
competent engineering firms
www.german-biogas-industry.com
Biogas
an all-rounder
New opportunities for
farming, industry and the environment
2015 | 4th fully revised edition
photo: muta/Fotolia
 Biogas
an all-rounder
New opportunities for
farming, industry and the environment

2015 | 4th fully revised edition

1
Biogas: The all-rounder
good for the environment and good
for people in rural areas
 Contents
04 Faltering at the 08 The Industry 42 Companies
Head of the Class
Foreword by Horst Seide, 10 Biogas: The Energy 42 Overview
President of the
German Biogas Association Revolutions All-Rounder
46 Business Areas
06 The Biogas Industry: 14 Biogas for Cooking,
Forging its own Path Heating and Driving 46 Company Profiles
Foreword by Dr Jan tambask,
President of the 20 Heat from Biogas:
European Biogas Association.
A Village Supplies Itself
91 Publishers
24 The New Biogas Markets
Interview with 94 TradeFairs
Dr Dunja Hoffmann (GIZ) and
Clemens Findeisen
and Events
(German Biogas Association)
97 Legal Information
26 Fermenting Biological Waste:
Circular Economy Instead of
Waste Disposal

30 Fermentation Products:
A Valuable Asset

32 Major Opportunities for

Small Biogas Systems

36 From Germany all over

the World Biogas is an
Export Hit

40 Biogas Helps
Climate Protection

Using the potentials of biogas:

citizens of the German community of Meinheim (Bavaria)

Photo: Tom Baerwald

Contents 3
 Faltering at the
Head of the Class
Foreword by Horst Seide, President of the German Biogas Association
Photo: NuernbergMesse/Thomas Geiger
Horst Seide,
President of the German Biogas
Association
For a long time, the German biogas
industry only knew one way to go: up-
wards. At the turn of the millennium
there were 1,000 biogas plants across
the country and these were joined by
almost 7,000 more in the next 14 years,
together meeting almost four per cent
of German electricity needs. No oth-
er European country is even close to
threatening Germanys position at the
head of the class.
However, since 1 August 2014 actu-
ally, since the EEG 2012 amendment
came into force on 1 January 2012 the
German biogas motor has been show-
ing clear signs of faltering. In fact, the
industrys own success is now overtak-
ing it and slowing it down. Problems
in some regions with the cultivation of
energy crops have now become wide-
spread and more dramatic. The Ger-
man Energiewende and its foundation
the Renewable Energies Sources Act
(EEG) have been systematically dis-
credited and reduced to a debate on
costs, which upon closer examination
can be seen to be lacking any real basis.
At the end of the day, a law and addition-
al requirements have now been put in
place which make the construction of
new biogas plants almost impossible in
financial terms and even pose a great
challenge to the operation of existing
plants.
4 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Under the current conditions, the only
projects which still pay off apart from
flexibilisation based on the flexibility
premium are new small-scale slur-
ry plants (with a maximum rating of
75 kW) or waste digesters. So we are
back where we were 14 years ago at the
start of the millennium: the processing
of slurry into a high-value fermentation
product and the anaerobic digestion of
biogenic waste. There is no question as
to the arguments in favour of energeti-
cally processing waste in biogas plants.
Furthermore, as of 1 January 2015, lo-
cal authorities are obliged to operate
separated waste collection, including
organic waste in the brown bins: This
will undoubtedly increase the potential
for biogas plants a little. With the an-
aerobic digestion of slurry there is also
definite room to expand: More than a
third of exploitable animal excrement
still ends up on the fields without pro-
cessing. However, the majority of Ger-
manys organic waste already finds its
way into biogas plants, so there is no
significant potential remaining undis-
covered.
The knowledge acquired in recent
years means that biogas has become
more than just a fundamentally import-
ant element of modern, closed-cycle
agriculture: It is an indispensable pillar
of our energy transition. And this is not
limited just to the electricity market!
There are increasingly wide-ranging
and innovative usage options available
for the thermal energy produced during
electricity generation in a CHP. Heating
cooperatives are becoming more popu-
lar as a way for private households to
benefit directly from biogas plants with
secure, economical and climate-friend-
ly locally sourced thermal energy.
Additionally, direct feed-in of biome
thane from biogas upgraders also of-
fers us a way to use domestic gas and
become less dependent on Russian
imports. A study from the Fraunhofer
Institute for Wind Energy and Ener-
gy System Technology (IWES) early
this year came to the conclusion that
Germany can liberate itself from its
current dependency on imported Rus-
sian gas by 2030: Biomethane would
be an important pillar of this strategy
for an accelerated phase-out of natural
gas. And last but not least, biogas also
offers a great opportunity for private
transport an area often overlooked
when it comes to the energy transition.
Compared to a similar petrol-driven
car, a vehicle fuelled by biomethane
generated from waste digestion can
represent a CO2 saving of up to 90 per
cent. Biomethane/CNG is suitable as a
fuel for any gas-powered vehicle and is
already available today.
All of these opportunities are being
limited and strangled by the EEG
2014 amendment. So the inevitable
question is: How serious is the Ger-
man government when it comes to the
Energiewende? For the stakeholders in
the biogas industry, the changes to the
legal framework will necessitate some
serious reconsideration. In Germany
we will no longer see the type of biogas
plant that has been the most common
so far: fuelled by energy crops and gen-
erating electrical and thermal power for
8,000 hours per year.
The EEG 2014 marks the end of the
era of statutorily fixed remuneration
tariffs and guaranteed take-up of the
electricity generated. Operators, man-
ufacturers and suppliers alike will have
to look for new markets and find their
profitability outside the scope of the
EEG: via the secondary and tertiary
(minute) balancing power reserve; via
demand-actuated feed-in; and from new
markets for thermal power and fuels.
The export market certainly offers po-
tential for some German biogas manu-
facturers. There is still great demand
for biogas Made in Germany, and
there is movement in the European bio-
gas market in countries such as France,
the UK, Italy or the Netherlands. Addi-
tionally, interest is growing in energy
from biogas in places such as China
and the USA. All the countries which
are now entering the field of biogas us-
age may look carefully at the German
market since they can learn from the
experiences of the German biogas in-
dustry in recent years: There is no need
to repeat our mistakes.
Without a doubt, difficult times are
ahead for the German biogas players.
However, they are ready to take a con-
structive approach to the new chal-
lenges and work together to shape a
positive future. Indeed, there are no
alternatives: The energy transition has
to succeed and biogas will play a de-
cisive role!
Yours truly
Horst Seide
President of the
German Biogas Association
Foreword 5
 The Biogas Industry:
Forging its own Path
Foreword by Dr Jan tambask, President of the European Biogas Association

The number of biogas plants in Europe In 2013, some politicians reduced or

Photo: EBA

is continuously increasing. By the end of even completely withdrew support for

2013, there were more than 14,000 bio-
gas plants in Europe, with an electricity
generating capacity exceeding 7,500
MW, followed closely by biomethane
production, as producers are on track to
produce 1 billion m3 of biomethane this
year. These figures are impressive both
in terms of magnitude and the rate of
Jan tambask, increase we are seeing each year. None-
President of the
European Biogas Association
theless, biogas developments are not
just numbers, but rather indicators of a
clear success in creating a real biogas
industry. Such an industry can drive
the development of regions, agriculture
and energy production forward sustain-
ably. After all, it is the biogas industry
that is now creating new jobs in a Eu-
rope hit by an unprecedented economic
downturn in the recent years. It is the
biogas industry that is bringing invest-
ment to rural regions where only very
few would consider investing.
renewable energies in their home coun-
tries. The biogas industry has been
affected the most by these changes
compared to other renewable energies.
This negative attitude may be the major
challenge facing biogas to date and it is
the responsibility of biogas companies
to respond to this challenge togeth-
er. While energy and climate policies
helped to create the biogas industry,
our task today is to show that biogas
can go even further. We have an op-
portunity to reveal the full spectrum of
products and services the biogas indus-
try can offer to society.

6 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
This starts with substrates available for In addition to the points already men-
biogas production: a wide range of agri- tioned, every single biogas plant pro-
cultural by-products and energy crops, duces digestate. This high-quality fer-
waste streams from the food and bever- tiliser has been overlooked time and
age industries, or municipal biowaste time again when it comes to discussing
separated at source. Another entirely the future. However, it is the most nat-
new set of diverse feedstocks is avail- ural biogas by-product and one of the
able for the production of biogas with greatest benefits of biogas production.
the wide range of products the biogas Small farmers and plant operators have
industry can deliver. Anybody involved already been aware of this for years.
in biogas production is well aware of the Digestate can enhance the existing in-
plentiful choices of energy use for bio- comes. Hand in hand with the End-Of-
gas. Even average citizens throughout Waste status and with recycling as an
Europe can enjoy electricity and heat added benefit, the biogas industry will
produced at a clean and reliable plant help to take waste treatment to anoth-
in their neighbourhood, fuel their cars er level. Not many industries can offer
with a renewable gaseous fuel and work this.
in factories powered by sustainable
electricity. However, energy is only one Several major policies support the
part of the broad spectrum of goods aforementioned points. The biogas
biogas has to offer. The biogas industry industry can profit from the correct
can also play an important role in pro- implementation of these policies. And
viding other significant assets such as we wish to see an even stronger biogas
grid stability, storable energy and ener- industry.
gy security.
The strength of the biogas industry can
The natural gas grid is just as important be seen in this biennial Biogas Allround-
to Europe as the electricity grid. Unlike er. I wish you an inspiring reading.
electricity, however, there are very few
substitutes to secure natural gas flows, Best wishes,
with biomethane as the only known
renewable alternative to natural gas
available today. It is not just biogas up-
grading, but also gasification processes
that are progressing quickly enough to
join the club of biomethane producers,
followed by emerging, yet highly prom- Jan tambask,
ising power-to-gas technology. While President of the
some countries are looking for alterna- European Biogas Association
tive and renewable sources of natural
gas, Europe is instead looking towards
the East, anxiously waiting to see what
will happen if the pipeline is closed and
the supply of natural gas is suddenly
cut off. No one is in a position to design
and construct a liquefied natural gas
terminal within a few years or to deliver
much of the highly controversial shale
gas even within a longer time frame. It
is the biogas industry which holds the
solution, which can construct plants rel-
atively quickly and deliver large quanti-
ties of gas, produced in a reliable and
sustainable manner.

Foreword 7
 Bio
Photo: Tom Baerwald

8 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
gas
an
all-rounder

9
In 2014, 41,000 people were working in the German
biogas industry in agriculture, plant construction,
service, operation and maintenance. Local specialist
craftsmen benefit from this.

Using the opportunities provided by a regional energy supply system with biogas:
farmer Alexander Wolf, apprentice Patrick Seitz and engineer
Andreas Niederlhner, plant designer (from left to right)

Photos: Tom Baerwald

10 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
 Photos (v.l.n.r.):
Tom Baerwald/Agrikomp; Wolfgang Jargstorff/Photo-
lia; Tom Baerwald/Agrikomp; Fachverband Biogas e. V.
Biogas: The Energy
Revolutions All-Rounder
Biogas is produced by fermenting biomass. It is a gas containing methane, which serves as a renewable
and versatile raw material for generating electricity, heat and fuel, thus vitally contributing to a safe and
environmentally compatible energy supply. Biogas can be stored or can be fed into the natural gas grid and
is therefore extremely flexible.

Just like natural gas, biogas is a gas- capacity of about 500 kilowatts (kW)

Photo: Fachverband Biogas e. V.

eous mixture that is primarily made up
of methane. It is produced by microor-
ganisms when they decompose plants,
manure or slurry. Biogas is also gen-
erated at wastewater treatment plants
and waste disposal sites. For use as an
energy source, biogas is generally con-
verted into electrical and thermal ener-
gy in cogeneration plants (CHP units).
The heat generated can be used to heat
buildings, for example. Thus, the ener-
gy is used twice and in a particularly ef-
ficient manner. Electrical and thermal
energy produced by biogas plants is
especially climate-friendly because the
amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) pro-
duced during biogas production is more
or less equal to the amount absorbed by
the energy crops during growth or the
amount which escapes as waste decays.
Heat and electricity from one
single source of energy
Biogas production also has an indirect
impact on climate protection. Here, the
controlled fermentation of liquid manure
or compostable waste prevents harmful
gases such as methane, which contrib-
utes significantly more to greenhouse
effects than CO2, from escaping. A bio-
gas plant with an installed electricity
produces about four million kilowatt
hours (kWh) of electricity and 4.4 mil-
lion kWh of heat in one year from about
two million cubic metres (m3) of biogas.
It therefore replaces the equivalent of
440,000 litres (l) of fuel oil. Thus, a
farmer can produce enough electricity
for more than 1,000 average four-per-
son households in one year at his power
station. At the same time, the CHP unit Biogas is the only renewable
energy source capable of
produces enough thermal energy to heat providing electricity and heat in
150 households. line with demand.
Biogas producers in Germany can sell
the electricity generated for fixed feed-
in tariffs in accordance with the German
Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG),
which has been in force since 2000.
Here, the operators share is between 12
and 25 cents per kWh depending on the
size of the plant, the substrate used and
the year in which the plant was commis-
sioned. The newer a plant, the lower the
compensation for electricity fed into the
grid. For example, a new 500 kW plant,
connected to the grid from 1 August
2014, only receives about 12.3 ct/kWh.
The basis for biogas generation is main-
ly agricultural energy crops and farm
fertilisers, such as manure or slurry. In
2014, the 7,944 biogas plants in Germa-
ny generated about 27,6 billion kWh of

Biogas: The Energy Revolutions All-Rounder 11

 ity e, c.
bil tov , et
nt Mo s seater
pla a
G h
gas gas tio
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Bio y era
icit pti
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Loc sys al gas
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igh E
Ne

All-rounder biogas: depending
on the users of heat or the type of
use, biogas can serve a number
of purposes.
electricity, thereby providing about 7.9
million households with environmen-
tally-friendly energy. The biogas plants
provide for more than four per cent of
Germanys electricity consumption.
Germany is the largest biogas produc-
er in Europe. However, other countries
are also extremely active. The second
largest market for biogas plants is Great
Britain, which generates electricity
predominantly from landfill gas. Italy is
in third place. Here, compensation for
electricity fed into the grid at a rate of
28 cents per kWh for electricity gener-
ated using agricultural raw materials
created a real boom up until 2012
Micro gas grids: from the biogas plant
to external CHP units
If the heat consumer is very far away
from the biogas plant, transporting the
heat becomes expensive. In this case,
the CHP unit can also be set up at the
location which requires the heat. The
biogas is simply transported via a pipe-
line to the satellite CHP unit in the city
or at a heat consumer and is then con-
verted into electricity and heat on-site.
The waste heat can then be distributed
locally at economic rates.
Biomethane in the natural gas grid

After processing, biogas can also be

Transporting heat: from the biogas plant fed directly into the existing natural
Photo: Tom Baerwald/Agrikomp

Cogeneration plants convert
biogas into electricity and heat.
to the public district heating system
While the purchase of electricity by
the utility companies is statutorily reg-
ulated, biogas producers must market
thermal energy on their own initiative.
It is only seldom that the demand on
their own agricultural farms is great
enough to use all of the heat produced
throughout the year. Instead, heat can,
for instance, be fed into a district heat-
ing network. In addition to households,
especially such consumers who require
heat throughout the year, are of inter-
est for example community buildings
such as schools and city halls, retire-
ment homes, swimming pools, green-
houses and fish farms.
gas grid. This is because it uses the
available infrastructure and is used as a
natural gas equivalent (called biometh-
ane). At present, around 150 plants in
Germany feed a volume of approxi-
mately 600 billion cubic metres (m3)
of biomethane into the network every
year. The natural gas grid is also fed
into in Sweden and the Netherlands.
Biogas as fuel
Biogas, as a substitute for natural gas,
can even be used in vehicles. Biometh-
ane is mainly used as fuel in Sweden.
The public transport buses in more than
ten Swedish cities run on biomethane.
The kilometric performance obtained
from one hectare (ha) of maize is around

12 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
 70,000 kilometres (km) this is equal to Biogas industry statistics at a glance
one and a half times the circumference
Forecast for Forecast for
of the earth. To date, there are about 2013* 2014** 2015**
180 biogas filling stations in Germany Number of plants
7,850 (144) 7,944 (153) 8,005 (156)
where one can fill up on biomethane as (of these feeding biomethane)

a pure fuel. At least one third of the more Increase in power generation capacity 191 316 195
in MW per year
than 900 natural gas filling stations mix (including redundant capacity)
biomethane with natural gas at ratios of Increase in productive power generation 158 136 8
capacity in MW
between five and 100 per cent.
(not including redundant capacity)
Installed generation capacity MW 3,543 3,859 4,054
(incl. power feed-in through biomethane)
Storable energy that can be used at Gross power generation in TWh per year 26.42 27.55 27.88
(not including redundant capacity)
any time
Homes supplied with 7.5 million 7.9 million 8.0 million
biogas based electricity
Biogas can be stored without any prob- CO2 saving using biogas 16.8 17.6 17.8
in millions of tonnes
lems and can thus be used at any time,
Turnover in Germany in 7.3 billion 7.4 billion 7.2 billion
regardless of the place of origin. This
Jobs 41,000 41,000 39,000
characteristic is capitalised on by com-
bined power plants, for example. They * internal extrapolation based on
federal state data
combine different sources of renewable
** based on expert interviews
energies in order to supplement their However, a biogas plant generates elec- (as of November 2014)
supply and to ensure provision of the re- tricity that is virtually CO2 -neutral from
quired energy volume at all times. Here, energy crops as well. This means: Only
biogas plays a significant role due to its the CO2 volume that the plants had pre-
storage properties: It compensates for viously absorbed from the atmosphere
fluctuations in other renewable ener- in order to grow is emitted back into
gies such as wind or solar energy. Be- the atmosphere during combustion in
cause of this potential, biogas is being the CHP unit. In comparison to pow-
used more extensively within the con- er plants using fossil sources, the CO2
text of the approaching transformation emissions from modern biogas plants
of Germanys energy system. are less than half.

The third effect is that the fermentation

Contribution to climate protection
The production of biogas makes a sig-
nificant contribution to climate protec-
tion, because methane (a much stron-
ger greenhouse gas than CO2) is used
in the biogas plant to ferment slurry
(liquid manure) and manure, which
otherwise escapes into the atmosphere
from the liquid manure tank.
leaves behind a high-quality fertiliser.
This digestate is a substitute for miner-
al fertilisers, which have to be produced
using a great deal of energy. This can
also help to reduce CO2 emissions, thus
improving climate protection.
Biomass yields
t of dry mass/ha

p Good growing conditions p Average growing conditions p Bad growing conditions

30 30
30
27
25
20 20
20 20 20 20 20
18 17
15 16 16
15 15
10 13 13 12 13 13 10
10 10 10 10 10
8
6
0 0
e

sil ole

et

et

m ye

ts

ss

fe /
an

le n d
aiz

an
ill
Be

ra
e

ed
d nr
op h

pl
ag

aiz

ab sla
M
M

sg
cr in /w

pl
an ree

a r r as
ild

va

Cu
G
a

ar

G
W
Gr

Sz

Biogas: The Energy Revolutions All-Rounder 13

Biogas is produced locally and strengthens the sense of community.
Citizens plan and secure their own self-sufficient
energy supply system.

Actively engaged in ensuring the quality of life

for future generations:
Klaus Uhl, the first chairman of the local heating
cooperative (left), and farmer Robert Bergdolt

Photos: Tom Baerwald

 Photos (v.l.n.r.): Hugo Vogelsang Maschinenbau GmbH;
WoGi/Photolia; Tom Baerwald/Agrikomp; AUDI
Biogas for Cooking,
Heating and Driving
Biogas is a natural product and is produced by anaerobic organisms wherever there is an absence of oxygen.
Manufacturers of biogas plants make use of this principle in their power generation equipment. Here energy
crops and biogenic waste material are converted to a flexible energy carrier by fermentation.

Biogas is actually a renewable energy The biogas plant simulates the

Photo: Tom Baerwald

source but it is nothing new, as this
methane-containing gas is produced
all around in nature where biomass
is decomposed under the exclusion of
oxygen. Unicellular organisms called
archaea are responsible for this. They
date back to prehistoric times, when
different conditions for life prevailed
on earth. Today they live in swamps,
standing water and in the stomachs of
animals and humans, i.e. everywhere
where it is damp and where there is a
shortage of oxygen. Biogas plants use
the special property of archaea to pro-
duce cost-effective and climate neutral
electrical energy and heat.
natural process
In contrast to nature, here the fermen-
tation process proceeds in a controlled
and particularly efficient manner. Bi-
ology and technology are perfectly
attuned to each other. This makes it
possible to generate 20,000 kWh peak
output of electrical energy from 1 hect-
are (10.000 m 2) of maize; equivalent to Biogas produces energy from
local raw materials.
the supply for six households all year
round. The efficiency of modern plants
is substantial: Together with the heat
energy, one hectare of maize delivers
five times more energy than needs to
be used in growing, harvesting and con-
verting it into biogas.

A biogas plant with 500 kWel

Photo: Tom Baerwald

replaces 440,000 l of heating oil

per year.

B i o g a s f o r C o o k i n g , H e at i n g a n d D r i v i n g 15
 Structure of a biogas plant
Gas holder.
(plastic sheet cover).
Digester cover.
(wood construction).
Pressure relief valve.
Substrate inlet.
Insulation with.
weather protection.
Concrete container.
Propeller agitator.
The digester is the heart of the plant
Photo: Schmack Biogas GmbH (Viessmann Group)
Even though a biogas plant is made up
of several individual components, in
most of the turnkey plants installed all
of the parts are matched precisely to
each other and are nowadays predom-
inantly fully automated. Each stirring
mechanism, pump and container can
be observed and controlled from the
View of the interior of an empty display screen.
digester and agitator
The archaea themselves live in the
so-called digesters. These are large,
sealed airtight, steel or concrete con-
tainers in which the biogas is gener-
ated. Organic matter is supplied as
feedstock. Originally farmers primarily
used slurry or manure from livestock
farming. But these organic materials
deliver a limited amount of biogas in
comparison. Nowadays, therefore, they
are substituted by by-products from
food production, biowaste and energy
crops.
Photo: Fachverband Biogas e. V.
16 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Air supply
Gas outlet
to consumption
Overflow to
next container
Wall and
underfloor heating
Condensate trap
Source: Biogashandbuch Bayern (LfL)
Specially developed dosing systems
feed the biomass feedstock into the
digester accurate to the nearest kilo-
gramme. The dosing devices can be
controlled so that they automatically
feed in small quantities several times
an hour. These quantities are recorded
by weighing systems and logged in the
computer. The operator can read off
precisely how much biogas is generat-
ed by the raw materials.
In the digester, the exact living condi-
tions prevail under which the archaea
optimally operate. As a rule, this re-
quires heating the insulated containers
to between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius
(C). The available carbon in the maize,
grass, slurry or alternative raw materi-
als is converted by the archaea to bio-
gas within a few days. Stirring mecha-
nisms ensure the energy-saving mixing
of the fermentable contents and allow
the gas formed to escape. The biogas
is then transferred via a gas pipeline
to the combined heat and power plant
(CHP). Finally the fully fermented ma-
terial is pumped out into the fermented
residues storage tank.
Digesters are airtight containers
made of steel or concrete. In
them, the biogas is generated.
 Average composition of biogas
Typical biogas from energy crops contains mainly methane and carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide CO 2
38%
Methane CH4
55%
Biogas consists of one-half methane
The biogas arising must be desulphu-
rised and dried before burning, as hy-
drogen sulphide or moisture vapour in
the gas can damage the combustion
engine. 50 to 60 per cent of the biogas is
combustible methane. The remainder is
made up of mainly CO2 and lesser parts
of oxygen and nitrogen. The methane
is burnt in the engine, while the CO2
escapes into the atmosphere. As only
the amount of CO2 is thereby released
which the plant has absorbed during
growing, the combustion of biogas is
virtually climate neutral in comparison
to conventional natural gas.
Maintenance and control of
a cogeneration plant: Even
negligible differences in the
efficiency rate have a big effect
on the overall efficiency of the
biogas plant.
B i o g a s f o r C o o k i n g , H e at i n g a n d D r i v i n g
Water H2 O
Oxygen O 2
Other
5%
1%
1%
The engines are rugged, high-technol-
Photo: Hochschule Anhalt/Biotechnikum Kthen
ogy machines, which react flexibly to
varying methane contents in the biogas
through appropriate control devices.
Their efficiency has doubled in the last
ten years and today is over 40 per cent.
This means that more than 40 per cent
of the energy used is converted into
electrical power, but the residual ener-
gy can for the major part also be used.
Fermentation tests provide
information on the suitability of
The combustion engine drives a gener- various substrates for biogas
ator that produces the required electri- generation.
cal power. This is generally fed into the
local power network. The engine itself
must be cooled by water. The heat of
the cooling water at 80 to 90C and also
the heat from the exhaust gases can be
efficiently utilised via a heat exchanger,
for example, in swimming baths, green-
houses, animal stalls and living accom-
modation.
Photo: Tom Baerwald/Agrikomp
17

3,750 3,750
1,900
1,545 1,503
1,081 902
300
200
250
Renewable raw Livestock manure: Renewable
materials: Liquid manure, raw material
Maize, dung etc. by-products*:
whole crop silage, Straw, potato haulms,
alternative energy turnip tops etc.
crops etc.
*Parts of plants cultivated on agricultural land that are the by-products of what is actually being produced
Biogas in the gas supply network
Photos: agri-capital
Biogas is not always converted to heat
and electrical power at the place where
it arises. It can also be treated and fed
into the gas supply network. In Germa-
ny there is a widely distributed and well
developed gas supply network. The low,
medium and high pressure pipelines
amount in total to some 450,000 km.
In comparison to the 1.7 million km
electricity supply network that is quite
small. But the gas supply network can
handle high volume and transport great
quantities of energy. And unlike the
electricity supply network, feed and de-
mand do not need to be so accurately
matched to each other.
Biogas is converted in several process
steps, primarily through the separation
The biogas plants in Pliening near of CO2, into the natural gas equivalent
Munich were the first in Germany
to feed cleaned and conditioned
of biomethane. Public utilities or in-
biogas into the natural gas dustrial facilities in urban centres are
network. able to draw the gas from the network
and convert it to electricity and heat at
a suitable location, for example, in the
basement of a swimming pool or a gym
with high heat requirements. In this
way, the gas supply network functions
as a transport route and the energy
can be very efficiently transferred with
minimal losses.
18 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Biomass potentials
Assuming 4 mioha of arable land are available for
cultivating energy crops, 2 mioha of which are for biogas
Calculations from FVB, 2012; data taken from KTBL 2010; DBFZ 2011
p
Technical potential:
p
Realistic potential:
Capacity already installed MWp:p
in MWel
562
337 337
270 126
75 114
55
Purely plant-based Organic waste: Animal by-product:
by-product list**: Green waste bins, Food waste,
Stillage (wet distillers market waste etc. fats etc.
grain), spent mash
etc.
**Under the German EEG, this comprises materials from agro-industrial production.
The high-technology biogas sector
The development of state-of-the-art
measuring and process technology,
intensive research in the field of bio-
chemistry and creative services in
mechanical engineering are crucial
for the success of German plant engi-
neering technology. A large number
of scientists are working on improving
the performance of biogas plants. As a
result, power plants increasingly pro-
duce more energy with increasingly
less input.
Fuel for long distances
Once biogas is in the gas supply net-
work it can fulfil the same tasks as nat-
ural gas; for example as a fuel for vehi-
cles. The travel range from 1 hectare of
maize is around 70,000 km, equivalent
to one and a half times round the world.
In Germany there are now 180 bio-
gas filling stations for refuelling with
bio-methane as a clean fuel.
An increasing number of natural gas
filling stations add biomethane to natu-
ral gas, at a proportion between five and
50 per cent, and biogas can be found as
a fuel at around 35 per cent of the over
900 filling stations throughout Germa-
ny. Furthermore gas is by far the most
cost-effective fuel at the filling station
 Photo: Zentrum fr Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung
Power-to-gas research plant in Stuttgart, Germany: Surplus electricity is transformed into hydrogen using electrolysis.
CO2 from biogas plants can be used in the methanation process to generate synthetic methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

today. The German Biogas Associa- This has more than just financial bene-

Photo: Fachverband Biogas e. V.

tion-Biogas Tour in 2013 demonstrated,
in a four month, 13,000 km promotional
tour through Germany with a biogas
fuelled bus, that biogas is reliably and
inexpensively available.
Storage for energy transition
Due to its ability to be stored, biogas
will play an increasingly important role
in energy transition: As when the sun is
not shining or the wind not blowing, flex-
ible power plants have to step in quickly.
fits for the operator. For example, as the
larger CHP plants are more efficient, the
operator requires less raw materials for
the same amount of power generation.
In addition to this, increasingly more
biogas plants, which are equipped with
larger engines and gas storage facilities,
are also taking on the function of sta-
bilising the electricity grid. For a long
time, this regulating energy supply has A tankful of biomethane saves up
to 90 per cent of CO2 emissions in
been served by fossil power plants. The comparison with fossil fuels.
flexibility of the biogas plants, therefore,
helps to displace fossil fuel power sta-
tions and improve climate protection.

Photo: Fraunhofer IWES | Beushausen

Modern biogas CHP plants are particu-
larly suitable for such operation. An in-
creasing number of biogas plants in Ger-
many no longer generate power around
the clock, but only when required. For
this reason, plants are designed to be
flexible. This means, for example, that
a plant with a supplied output of 500
kilowatts (kW) actually has an installed
capacity of 1,000 kW. The plant, howev- At the research biogas plant in
Bad Hersfeld in Germany, the
er, will only run for half the time, for in- significance of biogas for the
stance, when there is a high demand for storage of surplus electricity is
power where as a result the cost of power being examined.

is more expensive. And instead of 8,000

full operating hours, this plant would
then only clock up 4,000 hours of actu-
al operation. This type of generation is
strongly promoted by the German Fed-
eral Government under the Renewable
Energy Sources Act (EEG).

B i o g a s f o r C o o k i n g , H e at i n g a n d D r i v i n g 19
Biogas: a safe footing for the future.
Because biogas is not only good for the environment,
it also contributes to the future sustainability of
municipalities.

Active members of the local

heating cooperative of
Meinheim in Germany:
Thomas Eschenbacher,
chairman of the supervisory
board, with family (left) and
plant operator Frank Wolf

Photos: Tom Baerwald

 Photos: Stadt Meinheim (links), WEITERE: Tom Baerwald
Heat from Biogas:
A Village Supplies Itself
Meinheim, a small German municipality in Niederfranken, close to the Altmhl Valley, campaigned for an
independent and advanced energy supply. A local heating grid run by a co-operative has been providing
thermal energy to the 650 inhabitants of the village for the last two years. And this system really has a lot to
offer: Unlike many such standard projects based on just one biogas plant, two plants run by local farmers
are simultaneously feeding into the heating grid in Meinheim.

However, this arrangement, which The development plan was quickly put

Photo: Stadt Meinheim

was expected to benefit all those who
are taking part in the project, was not
planned. The developments, which lead
to two biogas plants and one local heat-
ing grid in the village, were carried out
at the same time and initially without
any coordination this was more or less
of a coincidence and fortunately turned
out to be one project for the whole vil-
lage in the end.
The farmer Philipp Westphal had the
idea of building a biogas plant back in
2008, in order to place his cattle fat-
tening and arable farm on a broader
footing. While training in agricultural
engineering in Triesdorf, he worked
intensely on the subject, participated
in seminars and visited biogas plants.
There already were a few plants in the
region, for example, in the neighbour-
ing villages of Ostheim, Trommetsheim
and Alesheim, which is why the subject
was not new to the young farmer.
into practise, as a company specialising
in building biogas plants and local heat-
ing grids had already been established
in the area and the framework condi-
tions were suitable and also because
the biogas plant was optimally suitable
for an operation of this size. In 2009,
the biogas plant initially achieved a grid
feed-in of 190 kW outside the village,
which also housed a cowshed for the Meinheim in Middle Franconia,
Germany: 100 households are
Westphals. This increased by 210 kW heated by a local heating network
in October 2010. Five tonnes of cattle using biogas heat.
manure, 15 tonnes of cattle slurry, 15
tonnes of maize and 4 tonnes of grass
are used here on a daily basis.
Frank Wolf, another local farmer, also
built a biogas plant with an overall pow-
er of 380 kW. Since both biogas plants
could only use small amounts of the
heat produced during electricity gen-
eration, it was obvious that the heat
should be used by the village.

H e a t f r o m B i o g a s : A Vi l l a g e Supp l i e s I t s e l f 21
 National benefit
regional and
supra-regional

ply
ers te s up
rm ma on of
Fa Cli tecti fet
y
pro Sa
Job
l
s
fue
at,
he
ic ity,
ctr
Ele
ine
ch s
Ma plier
sup try
us Hi
nd gh
Job si -qu
ga ali
s Bio ty
fer
tili
ser
Tax
es
s
Job

d ers
an rm
fts es ies Fa
ra
C rad ipalit
t nic
Mu

Founding of a co-operative The first members of the heat co-op-

Photo: Tom Baerwald

erative joined the network in autumn

The Meinheimers realised this too, 2012; the connection work went on
expecting a local heating grid using until early 2013. In addition to many
locally generated bioenergy to pro- private households, a carpenters
vide reliability, environment-friendli- workshop, a furniture shop and pub-
ness and calculable costs. The topic lic buildings such as the fire station,
was discussed by the village at many a general-purpose building, a school,
gatherings and the advantages and a kindergarten and an administration
disadvantages were compared. Fi- department were connected.
Director of the Board of nally, Meinheim founded a co-opera-
the Cooperative, Klaus Uhl tive for the local heating system. The The controls for the sophisticated sys-
(foreground), and Alexander Wolf,
framework conditions of having two tem are to be found on the site of the
farmer
local biogas plants offered optimal op- wood-pellet heating system an at-
tions: Instead of the original plan for a tractive new building on the outskirts
Photo: Tom Baerwald

Wood pellet heating guarantees
the provision of heat if the biogas
plants fail a situation that has
never occurred yet in Meinheim.
woodchip furnace, which was to meet of the village. Here, any thermal ener-
the needs of the village on cold winter gy provided by the wood-pellet heating
days and during downtimes if the heat system must also be integrated into
delivered by one biogas plant was not the local heating network along with
adequate, the plan now included both the thermal energy supplied by the
biogas plants. CHP units at both biogas plants. The
plant has been running problem-free
Thus, the energy supplied on peak load so far.
days was sufficient to meet the needs
of the entire village. Those in charge of
the project think it is unlikely that both
biogas plants might breakdown at the
same time. Nonetheless, an additional
wood pellet heating system ensures a
secure supply.

22 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
 Photo: Tom
Baerwald
Frank and Alfred Wolf operate one of the two biogas plants in Meinheim.

Storing thermal energy

Photo: Tom Baerwald

The Meinheimers do not wish to rest
on their laurels: In the long term, they
would like to advance the use of bioen-
ergy. The main focus is the storage of
heat, because most of the heat generat-
ed in summer is not used, as was also
the case in the past. The households
can store this energy locally for a short
period of a few hours in the buffer stor-
age installed in their houses. However,
other technologies are required for the
storage of thermal energy over medium
and long periods. Storing thermal ener-
gy generated in summer for use in win-
ter is certainly possible, meaning that
very few wood pellets would have to be
burnt in winter, for example.

Substrate feeding
Photo: Tom Baerwald

The central heat station controls

the local heating system.

H e a t f r o m B i o g a s : A Vi l l a g e Supp l i e s I t s e l f 23

With the assistance of the regional GIZ programme, a biogas plant for the treatment of 150 cubic metres of pig slurry per day along with slaughterhouse waste
was built in Costa Rica in 2013.
The New Biogas Markets
Interview with Dr Dunja Hoffmann (GIZ) and Clemens Findeisen (German Biogas Association)
Photo: GIZ
Dr Dunja Hoffmann
Renewable Energy Advisor
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Dag-Hammarskjld-Weg 1-5,
D 65760 Eschborn
Phone : +49 (0)6196/79-1374
Email : dunja.hoffmann@giz.de
The use of biogas technology in de-
veloping and emerging countries is
currently enjoying an up-swing. This
is creating great opportunities for the
German biogas industry. However, cer-
tain challenges must be overcome when
dealing with countries that are both
geographically and culturally foreign.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Interna-
tionale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
operates in close cooperation with the
German Biogas Association (Fachver-
band Biogas e.V.) and supports com-
panies when entering the new biogas
markets. Dr Dunja Hoffmann from GIZ
and Clemens Findeisen from the Ger-
man Biogas Association have provided
an overview of the cooperation between
the two organisations and explain ways
in which companies could benefit.
What is the incentive for GIZ getting involved
in biogas?
Dunja Hoffmann: GIZ aims to contribute
towards sustainable economic devel-
opment as well as climate and envi-
ronmental protection. Biogas is a pio-
24 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Photo: AD Solutions
neering technology for achieving this
objective. We are currently working on
projects, which deal with biogas, in a
number of countries, for example, Bra-
zil, Mexico, China, Turkey, Indonesia,
Kenya and South Africa.
What exactly do you do to promote the use of
biogas in these projects?
DH: The process often begins with the
policy-makers, but measures are also
taken to support international compa-
nies as well as communities and local
micro-businesses. In most cases, in or-
der to support the partners we usually
start by analysing the potential, but we
also provide support regarding the po-
litical framework for biogas.
GIZ and German Biogas Association have been
cooperating for quite some time. Who benefits
from this and how?
DH: GIZ has considerable experience
in the area of household biogas plants.
However, in developing and emerging
countries the focus is increasingly on
technology for power generation, ener-

2 MW biogas plant for the fermentation of vegetable waste in Kenya. The key equipment for the biogas plant comes from Germany.
Otherwise, as much as possible is bought locally.
gy feed-in and biomethane processing.
This poses questions which require a
completely different approach. The Ger-
man Biogas Association has extensive
expertise in this field. There is great de-
mand for this know-how abroad.
Clemens Findeisen: It is important to high-
light new prospects for the German bio-
gas sector on the international market,
as there has been a significant down-
turn on the domestic market. Due to de-
cades of experience in developing and
emerging countries, GIZ is an import-
ant and well-connected point of contact,
is familiar with local conditions and can
support businesses by providing practi-
cal information. Our common objective
is to successfully execute biogas proj-
ects abroad in an efficient, safe and
sustainable manner.
What challenges have to be overcome in bio-
gas developing countries?
DH: Usually one must first create a com-
mon understanding of the issues we are
talking about: household biogas plants
or industrial biogas use as is the case in
Germany. Biogas may also refer to sew-
age and landfill gas in emerging coun-
tries. Furthermore, there is increased
local demand for information and edu-
I n t e r v i e w : THE NEW B I OGAS M ARKETS
Photos: SNOWLEOPARD
cation with respect to the technology
Photo: Fachverband Biogas e.V.
and the associated specifics. Last but
not the least, functioning maintenance
systems must be set up for the plants,
so as not to have just one plant which
might only function if the trained local
engineer is on site.
CF: There are also cultural differences,
which are often underestimated. One of
the most important challenges from our Clemens Findeisen
Consultant
point of view is the successful transfer Development Cooperation
and adaptation of technology to the local
German Biogas Association
conditions. Furthermore, financial con- Angerbrunnenstr. 12,
ditions are often challenging, one must D 85356 Freising
Phone : +49 (0)8161/98 46 811
adapt to the local conditions, ferment Email : Clemens.findeisen@biogas.org
complicated exotic substrates and face
high cement costs, lack of infrastructure,
high potential differences in power sup-
ply systems, lacking safety standards,
inadequate operator qualifications, etc.
What are the most common motives for setting
up a biogas plant in the individual countries?
DH: For example, in the recent past it
was the Clean Development Mecha-
nism (CDM) in emerging countries.
When CDM was still interesting and ac-
tive, the emphasis was not primarily on
energy production but more so on pre-
venting methane emissions and on the
additional generation of CO2 emission
25

With the support of develoPPP.de,
GIZ and the local operator Biogas
Power Company of East Africa Limited,
a German company (see page 50)
has installed a biogas-plant that uses
feedstock from the agribusiness
industry in Kili in Kenya.
(right and below)
certificates. However, efficient energy
Photo: agriKomp GmbH
production has become more important
since the CO2 certificates have fallen in
price. In most cases, the impetus is sta-
bilisation of the system in order to avoid
ongoing power failures.
CF: Feed-in tariffs are in place in many
developing and emerging countries as
well as some very ambitious plans in
the renewable energies sector. In ad-
dition to this, of course, there is also a
Photo: agriKomp GmbH
desire within the industry to be able to
provide a decentralised energy supply
itself. Thus, energy-independent and
decentralised solutions play an increas-
ingly significant role in developing and
emerging countries and this is exactly
where biogas, the all-rounder, is the ide-
al partner and provides the motivation
for enterprises to launch such projects.
Nonetheless, the impetus for using
biogas is often the disposal and use of
waste materials.
What are the challenges and obstacles faced
when transferring and adapting the technology?
CF: The transfer and adaptation of tech-
nology always involve a delicate bal-
ance between price and quality. It is a
task and a challenge for the German
business community to adapt the tech-
nology in such a way that reliable and
sustainable systems can be installed
and operated. As much technology as
necessary and as simply as possible.
26 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Photo: agriKomp GmbH
DH: Ultimately, it is not about export-
ing technology, but rather as much
local production as possible. Support
for the transfer and adaptation of tech-
nology is of great importance to GIZ.
CF: Moreover, the partnerships neces-
sary for this set-up are becoming more
and more important. Especially if one
is aiming to create local added value.
The use of local technology is also be-
ing promoted in some countries.
How can German companies benefit from the
cooperation between GIZ and German Biogas
Association in light of the currently stagnating
domestic market?
DH: On the one hand, with information
that we always provide, for example
in the Biogas Journal. This journal
provides information on contact part-
ners and interesting promotional pro-
grammes such as develoPPP.de. With
develoPPP.de, the Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Develop-
ment supports the involvement of the
private sector where entrepreneurial
opportunities and development policy
needs intersect. Over 35 develoPPP.de
projects have already been supported
in the biogas sector. Moreover, GIZ
has many contacts at the local level.
Here, GIZ and the German Biogas
Association can act as an honest bro-
ker.
 Photo: EVONIK
GIZ and a German biogas company (see page 62) transfer skills and technology to improve the efficiency of biogas with biomethane generation in China.
The project is supported by develoPPP.de, a programme to foster cooperation between the private sector and development policy for their mutual benefit.

CF: In addition to this, GIZ and Ger-

Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
man Biogas Association are involved
in various joint activities, such as work-
The Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit
shops during the annual Biogas con-
(GIZ) GmbH is an experienced service provider and as a federal en-
ference, joint missions and delegation
terprise assists the German government in achieving its objectives
visits. Among other things, the frame-
in the field of international cooperation. GIZ offers demand-driven,
work conditions for private sector in-
tailor-made and effective services for sustainable development. Most
volve-ment in developing and emerging
of GIZ work is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for
countries are being improved by these
Economic Cooperation and Development, but GIZ also operates
joint efforts.
on behalf of other German ministries as well as public and private
sector clients in Germany and abroad. GIZ works closely with the
Do you have any other tips for companies that
would like to get involved in developing and
private sector and promotes synergies between the development
emerging countries? and foreign trade sectors. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries
worldwide and has 16,510 staff around the globe.
DH: Working together with the world is
extremely exciting! Every day brings
In the area of renewable energy, GIZ is currently executing 140 proj-
new surprises that you have to be pre-
ects in over 40 countries. More than ten of these projects have a bio-
pared for; plan to spend a little more
gas component and four of them focus mainly on biogas. Cooperation
time than anticipated and finally, keep
with the private sector and with German and local companies is a
at it!
major topic in these development projects.

CF: From what the companies that are

GIZ has been working together with the German Biogas Association
working in the developing and emerg-
for many years and this cooperation was formalised in 2011 and re-
ing countries tell us, they are learning
newed in 2014.
a lot form this both personally and
professionally. These projects and busi-
www.giz.de
nesses are run with a lot of passion,
emotion and commitment. In addition, I
would also like to draw particular atten-
tion to the extensive support measures
and activities of the renewables
Made in Germany initiative, including
information events, market analyses
and delegation visits. These and other
activities on the subject of biogas can
be found at www.biogas.org.

I n t e r v i e w : THE NEW B I OGAS M ARKETS 27

 Photo: Bioconstruct GmbH
The biogas power plant in Melle
(Lower Saxony, Germany) processes a
maize silage and slurry mix
and uses the resulting waste heat for
wood drying.

Fermenting Biological Waste:

Circular Economy Instead of Waste
Disposal
34 per cent of all municipal waste produced in the European Union is still dumped at waste disposal sites.
In most EU countries in Eastern and Southeast Europe, the waste disposal quota even exceeds 70 per
cent. The high volumes of biodegradable municipal waste are responsible for the formation of methane
gas, which is particularly harmful to the climate, at waste disposal sites. Fantastic options open up if damp
biowaste is collected separately: With the right treatment, it can be used to produce the versatile energy
source that is biogas as well as a high-quality fertiliser.

The European Waste Framework Di-
rective demands a drastic reduction in
the quantities of waste to be disposed.
This should be done by redesigning
waste management, taking into con-
sideration the five-pillar hierarchy
prevention, reuse, recycle, other kinds
of utilisation, such as energy recovery,
and disposal only as a last resort. The
Waste Framework Directive targets at
achieving a recycling ratio of 50 per
cent of the municipal waste of all the
member states by 2020.
organic and green waste, as recorded
by the waste management companies
with public contracts. They are mainly
recycled by composting. The resulting
compost provides a substitute for peat
taken from raised bogs as an excellent
fertiliser and soil conditioner. However,
there is still a lot of energy left in the
damp, biogenous waste matter: Biogas,
which can be used to generate electric-
ity, heat or fuel, is produced by anaero-
bic digestion.

62 per cent of municipal waste is already Complex biofractions

being recycled in the Federal Republic
of Germany. The recycling ratio has Biodegradable waste in Germany rep-
even been reported at 100 per cent for resents 30 to 40 per cent of the total

28 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r

As much biogas can be produced from 70 tonnes of organic waste as from one hectare of silage maize.
quantity of municipal waste. Separate
collection of biowaste began more than
25 years ago. Since then, the volume
of separately collected biowaste has
increased more than sevenfold. The
German Closed Cycle Management Act
demands the introduction of nationwide
collection of biowaste throughout the
whole of Germany by 2015. The white
spots on the map are only vanishing
very reluctantly, as the Act also allows
for self-composting on private property
used by the owner. At present, 80 per
cent of the population lives in areas with
a collection system for household waste
in biowaste bins. 4.2 million tonnes of
stale bread, vegetable leftovers, kitch-
en waste, spoilt and unusable fruits and
vegetables are collected every year in a
similar fashion.
This potential can be increased by
about 3 million tonnes if the nationwide
collection scheme is implemented suc-
cessfully and the collection capacity
in areas with organic waste bins is in-
creased. In addition to that, there is an
amount of 4.5 million tonnes of green
waste: Green waste means grass cut-
tings and (partially woody) clippings
from private gardens and public land-
scape areas, such as parks and road-
F e r m e n t i n g B i o l o g ic a l W a s t e : C i r cu l a r Ec o n o m y I n s t e a d o f W a s t e Di s p o s a l
Photos (from top to bottom):: Schmack Biogas GmbH (Viessmann Group); Bertold Werkmann/Fotolia; thomass/Fotolia
side greenery, as well as material from
landscaping. Local drop-off collection
points are made available for green
waste. Green waste is often not very
suitable for fermentation because of its 30 to 40 per cent of
municipal waste in Germany is
low energy densities; however, it serves organic waste.
as a high-quality structural material
used for treating digestate added at a
ratio of up to 20 per cent. On an aver-
age, more than 100 kg of biowaste and
green waste are separately collected for
every inhabitant.
The colourful selection of biodegrad-
able products in the waste segment also
encompasses leftovers from large can-
teens, hotels or hospitals, expired prod-
ucts from the food sector and various
leftovers from food production, such
as slaughterhouse waste. The volume
of such commercial waste is estimated
to be around four million tonnes. Alto-
gether, around 1,000 biogas plants gen-
erate energy from waste across Germa-
ny. The greatest potential that has not
yet been exploited lies in biowaste bins
and green waste. To date, a large share
of these fractions is not used for energy
recovery before being sent to the about
1,000 composting plants
29
Photo: Bioconstruct GmbH
Green waste is also well-suited to fermentation in biogas plants.
Photo: Catherine CLAVERY/Photolia
Photo: Photo: Fachverband Biogas e.V.
Energy crops such as grass silage
are increasingly being fermented
together with waste in the same
plants. (above and right)
Combination of fermentation and
composting
About 120 plants across the nation gen-
erate biogas from biowaste and green
waste collected through the public
waste management system. A large
number of these are composting plants
with an upstream fermentation level
that uses a cascade system. In the case
of such combined cycle plants, after
fermentation the digestate from bio-
degradable waste is composted. The
quality of the compost does not change
significantly: The nutrient content is
slightly reduced because the nutrients
dissolve in the process fluid. However,
the salt content is lower, which increas-
es crop tolerance. From a hygiene point
of view, the substrate must undergo a
particular heat treatment either during
the fermentation or post-rotting stage
at the composting plant. According to a
study by the IFEU Institute Heidelberg,
one can assume greater CO2 savings
30 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
of up to 160 kg per tonne of waste with
biowaste fermentation in comparison to
pure composting. The capacity of such
plants in Germany is currently around
two million tonnes, which is still less
than 30 per cent of the entire potential.
In order to increase this percentage,
an attractive special regulation on bio-
degradable waste was introduced in
2012 in the German Renewable Energy
Sources Act (EEG), whereby post-rot-
ting is a prerequisite for compost pro-
duction. Since then, increased activi-
ties in waste fermentation have been
observed. Moreover, the strict prin-
ciple of exclusive use was repealed in
the EEG 2012. Energy crops, such as
maize or grass silage can therefore be
fermented along with waste in the same
plant. This co-fermentation allows for
more flexibility during substrate selec-
tion
Photo: Fachverband Biogas e. V.
 Power output from waste materials

1,016 Power yield

Methane output m3 /t fresh biomass kWhel / t wet weight
254

250 1,000

200 800

150 600

100 328 332 400

82 83
264
244
228 66
61
196 57
49
50 200

68 72
48
17 18
12

ry ry aines) as
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e d
ea
d
r r r ve oo
slu slu sg l m f to rm pe an bl br
Pi
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t tl
e er
ol
ub
pe le e to m al Ol
d
ill s ra d be ta d im
Ca s t w ith d g o t Po rie An
i
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ra an Sp ng
sg it u
le
r
F r u
tr yd
til
di
s ul
rie
d Po
(d

Completing the cycle of materials filling stations in Germany can also fill

Photo: shutterstock
biomethane, whereby the average mix-
Waste fermentation completes the cy- ing ratio is 15 per cent. The CO2 emis-
cle of materials, and competition with sions from a vehicle running on pure
areas used for food production and biomethane gas produced from waste is
pastureland is avoided. Biogas can sub- around 90 per cent lower than that of a
stitute fossil fuels for the generation comparable fuel.
of electricity and heat over different
bioenergy pathways. Alternatively, the As with the other forms of exploitation,
gas can be upgraded to biomethane at the prerequisite for this is the separate
natural gas quality and can be fed into collection of waste. If organic waste has
the gas grid. The number of waste bio- to be treated along with residual waste,
gas plants with gas feed-in is growing the only option that remains is inciner-
continuously. ation and ash disposal. However, this
removes the biomass and therewith
After the most recent reform of the the vital nutrients from the biosphere Prerequisite for the energetic
utilisation of organic waste is that
German EEG, the subsidy for electric- thus disturbing the cycle of materials. it is collected separately.
ity generated from biogas and biometh-
ane was limited and its use as fuel in
vehicles gained greater significance:
Around one-third of the 900 natural gas

F e r m e n t i n g B i o l o g ic a l W a s t e : C i r cu l a r Ec o n o m y I n s t e a d o f W a s t e Di s p o s a l 31
 Photo: Thomas Saupe/ istockphoto
In the biogas plant fermentation process, the mineral nutrients are preserved.
They can also be used as a high-quality fertiliser in the field.

Fermentation Products:
A Valuable Asset
Biogas provides electricity, heat, gas and fuel. The energy yield from biogas production is firmly embedded
in its materials cycle: The substance that is used in the fermentation plants as biomass whether in the
form of liquid manure, energy crops or biowaste later leaves the process as fermented substrate. These
fermentation products prove to be of great significance on farmland, in gardens and on other surfaces used
for farming, gardening and landscaping and they are steadily becoming more appreciated.

In principle, fermentation products are Suitable for fields, beds and balconies
Photo: Tom Baerwald

applied in liquid form in areas close to

Fermented substrate is highly
valued as a nutrient-rich and
humus-forming fertiliser.
farms. For many plant operators, this is
the most simple and cost-efficient meth-
od of completing the materials cycle
and getting the nutrients back into the
fields. Based on years of experience,
farmers are aware of the advantages
of the nutritious and humus-forming
properties of organic farm fertilisers.
The nutrients are made readily avail-
able for the plants after fermentation,
thus substituting conventional mineral
fertilisers, which are produced using a
great deal of energy.
Liquid fermentation products can be
turned into something much more
valuable with the help of new treatment
methods and techniques: if the liquid is
separated from the solids and the solids
are either composted or dried, which
makes transportation more cost-effi-
cient. The high percentage of phos-
phate in the solid fraction is particularly
valuable. One can further improve the
liquid phase so that concentrated ni-
trogenous liquid fertiliser is obtained at
the end. Moreover, one can selectively
separate the nutrients from the fermen-
tation product.

The product properties must be tai-

lored to meet the needs of the custom-
er in order to find new sales markets

32 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
for the treated fermentation products,
whether in horticulture or agriculture,
as a replacement for peat in earthworks
or in pellet form for use in beds and bal-
conies by hobby gardeners.
The fermentation product can also
be treated with substances such as
bio-carbons to obtain a high-quality
earth product. Various methods such as
pyrolysis treatment and hydrothermal
carbonization (HTC) can be used for
production. However, these procedural
techniques are in the very early stages
of development.
An important prerequisite for the eco-
nomically viable treatment of fermen-
tation products is their legal competi-
tiveness. This is provided in Germany,
among other things if the quality label
fermentation product or fermenta-
tion product from renewable sources
has been awarded by the Federal Com-
post Quality Assurance Organisation
(Bundesgtegemeinschaft Kompost
e.V., BGK). The German Biogas As-
sociation along with BGK established
the Quality Assurance Organisation
for Fermentation Products (GteGe-
meinschaft Grprodukte e.V., GGG) to
advance this subject within a legally
complex context. In addition to gen-
eral quality assurance on the basis of
uniform standards, it also handles new
marketing strategies.
The market for processed and dried
fermentation products is growing.
F e r m e n t a t i o n P r o d uc t s : a V a l u a b l e A s s e t
New perspectives
Photos: Fachverband Biogas e. V.
creating new added value
The treatment used to obtain valuable
fermentation products provides future
potentials which create new added
value for the entire biogas industry. It
could also provide a great alternative
for biogas producers at sites with high-
er livestock density and fertiliser-relat-
ed legislative bottlenecks despite the Fermentation products
in pellet form
many logistic and technical challeng-
es remaining in this segment. Drying
fermentation products to obtain valu-
able fertilisers is a meaningful use of
thermal energy produced at the biogas
plant. There is, therefore, no doubt that
the market demand for processed and
dried fermentation products will con-
tinue to increase, although the legisla-
tive authority wants to limit the use of
organic farm fertilisers of plant origin
in the amendment to the Fertiliser Or- It is in locations with high
livestock densities in particular
dinance (DV). that the processing of high-quality
fermentation products offers new
The biogas industry is opposed to this economic perspectives.
objective. It should still be ensured
that the fermentation products are fully
available (in the sense of the complet-
ed cycle approach) for the cultivated
plants instead of forcing increased re-
liance on mineral fertilisers; especially
since fermentation products are in no
way inferior to the traditional fertilisers
in terms of their properties.
In order to promote the marketing of
fermentation products across national
borders, the European Commission is
currently preparing to include organ-
ic fertilisers in a Fertiliser Ordinance
which applies across Europe.
Photo: Bioconstruct GmbH
33

Major Opportunities for
Small Biogas Systems
Small-scale biogas plants have great advantages. The benefits offered by biogas as a form of decentralised
energy use are clearly shown by these systems. Here liquid and solid manure are more likely to be used as
suitable substrates than maize or other energy crops. Thus, small biogas plants are particularly well suited
for farms.
One example is the biogas plant of Wil-
Photo: Thomas Gaul
helm Clsen in Straelen on the Lower
Rhine. The small biogas plant with an
installed electric capacity of 75 kW
went into operation at the end of 2012.
It is operated to 85 per cent using slurry
and manure. These are produced by the
140 dairy cows, which occupy the well
ventilated cow stalls next to the plant.
The remaining 15 per cent of the sub-
Plant control strate input is made up of maize.
Fertilisers from livestock farming
Livestock farming in Germany generates
around 200 million tonnes of excrement
annually. This contains a large amount
of energy that can be converted into
environmentally friendly heat and pow-
er using biogas technology. And after
fermentation, a high-quality natural fer-
tiliser is left over, which provides a bet-
ter availability of nutrients to field crops
than the initial waste product of slurry. In
34 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Photos: Thomas Gaul
The cylinder-shaped digester requires
little space and is therefore typical
for small biogas plants, which are
particularly suitable for agricultural
operations with limited space.
addition, the fermentation products lend
themselves more readily to dosing and
spreading. As farmer Clsen has found,
the fermentation product behaves al-
most like a mineral fertiliser. Not only is
it used as a high-quality fertiliser on his
own 75 ha of arable and pasture land, but
it is also supplied to neighbouring farm-
ers. In contrast to this, the fertilising
effect of slurry was difficult to calculate
and in wet conditions the nitrogen it con-
tained was released more quickly and
made its way into the groundwater as a
nitrate. There is also a pleasant side ef-
fect: The fermentation products give off
less odour than slurry, which is pleasing
for the neighbours in a country as dense-
ly populated as Germany.
Because of this, such locally adapted bio-
gas systems are also regarded in a more
friendly light by the general public than
large plants. However, the investment
cost per kilowatt of installed capacity is
relatively higher than for larger systems.

Agricultural and energy farmer: Wilhem Cuelsen uses
the potential of small biogas plants.
This is because, regardless of whether
the biogas plant has an output capacity
of 75 kW or 500 kW, the effort involved
in planning, approval and operation var-
ies much less than the power output. In
particular, the statutory requirements,
such as those prescribed for covering
fermentation product storage tanks, in-
crease the cost of construction. To com-
pensate for the economic disadvantage,
small plants get a higher basic feed-in
tariff credit of 23.73 cents per kilowatt
hour. This is higher than the legislature
provides for other feedstocks and tariff
credit classes. A precondition for this
is that the level of slurry substrate used
must be at least 80 per cent. The opera-
tor must demonstrate that the actual use
of slurry does not fall below this level
by keeping a daily plant log. If it does,
however, then the claim for the higher
credit is disallowed. This is because the
objective of the scheme is to reduce the
requirement for other substrates. As a
result, a maximum of 20 per cent renew-
able raw materials such as maize may be
used. There are, however, cattle farms
that use up to 100 per cent slurry in their
biogas plants.
Designs vary
At larger biogas plants, the stirred tank
fermenter design is dominant and remi-
niscent of large slurry tanks. In contrast,
other fermenter designs are to be found
at small biogas plants such as tall, slen-
M a j o r Opp o r t u n i t i e s f o r Sm a l l B i o g a s S y s t e m s
Photos: Thomas Gaul
Pump technology, installed under the digester
der cylinders. The advantage of this is
Photo: Thomas Gaul
that it is easier to find a location for the
biogas plant within the often cramped
conditions on a farm. The entire technol-
ogy for pumping, stirring and feeding is
then fitted under the digester (fermen-
ter). The control and equipment room
for the biogas plant is located in a con-
tainer next to it. The operator can see
the current status of the system on a
display screen and can easily change the CHP container
key parameters such as feeding.
It is important that the workload is not too
high, as farms usually do not have any la-
bourers other than the family members.
And in the case of dairy farming, fami-
lies have more than enough to do on the
farm. However, most plant operators can
manage on a good half hour every day
for feeding and another half hour for the
care and maintenance of the equipment.
Construction costs
Nevertheless, the breakthrough for
small biogas plants in Germany has
so far failed to materialise. As a result,
around 600 fewer small plants have
been built than would have been ex-
pected based on the actual data from
livestock farming. This is mainly due
to the high construction costs incurred
due to compliance with statutory re-
quirements. This economic disadvan-
tage is not compensated for by the high-
er tariff credit.
35
 Photo: BTA International GmbH
The biogas plant at Zell am See (Austria) processes a multitude of substrates and was developed with the help of German know-how.

From Germany all over

the World Biogas is an Export Hit
No other country in Europe generates as much electricity from biogas as Germany: With over 26 billion
kWh in 2013, the country was at the top of the charts ahead of the UK, Italy and the Netherlands. In recent
years, these countries were joined by the Czech Republic as the most important export markets for the Ger-
man biogas industry. However, after the Czech government completely cut subsidies, the countrys market
is now stagnating. In contrast, France is likely to increase its attraction as an export market.

In 2014, 7,944 plants in Germany with After all, the German biogas industry
Photo: Schmack Biogas GmbH (Viessmann Group)

a total capacity of 3,859 MW generated currently leads the way in terms of

Great Britain is one of the most
important export markets.
German engineering expertise
was also used at the plant in
Stoke Bardolph, Nottingham.
more than 26 billion kWh of electricity,
firmly establishing the countrys posi-
tion at the top of the international rank-
ings. There is no other country which
will even approach Germanys results.
The German biogas industry is in a
correspondingly strong condition,
with 41,000 people employed in the
construction and operation of biogas
plants in 2014 and an annual turnover
of approximately 7.9 billion euros. How-
ever, the domestic market is actually
shrinking and the amendment to the
German Renewable Energy Sources
Act passed in August 2014 (EEG 2014)
will exacerbate this. All the more rea-
son for the industry to look towards the
export markets.
technology not least because techno-
logical development here began much
earlier than in many other countries.
This goes from digester biology right
through to cogeneration plants: A
great deal of R&D has been invested in
the former, especially with regards to
energy crops, and the efficiency of the
latter has increased dramatically in
the past two decades. Mature thermal
concepts are also a characteristic of
the industry in Germany such as the
incorporation of biogas in bioenergy
villages with a local heating system.
The next step is now the integration
of biogas into the electricity market.
This could, for example, be through
the provision of regulating power; Ger-
many is far ahead of many other coun-
tries in this aspect, too.

36 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r

The 2.8 MW biogas plant in Tongeren, Belgium (above and below) uses maize silage and glycerine as well as agricultural and industrial waste materials.
Potential not yet fully unlocked in
Europe
The most important European export
markets are still to be found in the UK
and France. Then there are numerous
countries in Europe where biogas still
hardly plays a role although they have
good potential, such as Romania, Slo-
vakia and Hungary, as well as Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania or Ukraine. And
even Finland, Sweden, Ireland and Po-
land are still far from exploiting all the
opportunities they have.
The markets in Central and Southern
Europe are also interesting, in prin-
ciple, but political interventions tend
to change the playing field there very
quickly. For example, Italy was a very
attractive market in 2011: Out of the to-
tal installed capacity (410 MW) at the
end of the year, a full 40 per cent had
been erected during 2011 itself, and
German plant constructors were very
active in the country at that time.
According to statistics from the EBA,
at the end of 2012 there were 1,264
plants in Italy with a total capacity
of 1,075 MW. The leader among the
Italian regions is Lombardy, followed
by Veneto and Piedmont. In 2012 the
countrys total electricity produc-
tion was some 8.7 billion kWh, which
means that more than two per cent of
F r o m G e r m a n y A l l O v e r t h e W o r l d B i o g a s i s a n E x p o r t Hi t
Photo: Schmack Biogas GmbH (Viessmann Group)
Italian power consumption was already
Photo: Schmack Biogas GmbH (Viessmann Group)
being met by biogas.
Since then additional plant construc-
tion has strongly decreased due to the
cessation of subsidies, and the future
currently looks very uncertain. All the
same, biogas feed-in is now possible
for the Italian grid and a few projects
might become possible because of this.
In Spain, however, the market has now
come to a complete standstill.
France can be treated as an emerging
market, with a French renewable ener-
gies act regulating the remuneration
for biomethane since 24 November
2011. Since 2013, gas production has
been recompensed at 9.018 to 12.858
cents per kWh with the tariff coupled
to an inflation index. The remuneration
period is 15 years from plant commis-
sioning. However, in contrast to the UK,
here the remuneration is dependent on
the materials used and the processing
capacity. Some plants are currently be-
ing developed in France, but the plan-
ning periods of three years or more are
an obstacle to quick progress.
Of the 557 plants in operation at the
end of 2012, only 90 were agricultural
biogas plants. Most plants use landfill
gas. That is set to change: According to
the Plan nergie mthanisation auton-
omie azote, agricultural biogas plants
37

The German biogas industry covers the
entire value chain for the technology
and provides high-quality products, for
example in the area of cogeneration
plants.
Photo: AEV Energy GmbH
1.5 MW plant in Bad
Radkersburg, Austria. The
biogas industry in the Alpine
state is hoping for better feed-in
conditions.
which exploit farm-produced fertilisers
are to be expanded. In particular, this is
foreseen as a way to achieve long-term
reductions in nitrogen loads of agricul-
tural land. It is planned to build 1,000
biogas plants by 2020.
In the Czech Republic, the markets past
dynamism has now become very weak.
EBA figures for the end of 2012 show 481
operational plants in the country with a
total of 363 MW electrical output. As in
the previous year, 2012 saw the number
of operational plants increase by some
50 per cent, but this development did not
continue after the attractive funding pro-
grammes came to an end.
In the UK, developments are set to
continue: In June 2011 the government
had already published a strategy paper
on the expansion of biogas production.
The Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is aim-
ing for a total of approximately 100
large and 1,000 small new biogas plants
to be built by 2020 the latter will main-
ly be in agricultural enterprises. Since
1 April 2013, biomethane has been re-
munerated at the equivalent of 10.5
cents per kWh with a remuneration pe-
riod of 20 years from plant commission-
ing and terms that are independent of
the raw materials used.
At the end of 2012 in the UK, 312 bio-
gas plants were in operation with an in-
38 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
Photo: Tom Baerwald
stalled capacity of 1,243 MW. Together
they generated 6.4 billion kWh of elec-
tricity. Looking closely at those figures,
it is clear that the plants built in the UK
are mainly large-scale plants many of
them are utilising sewage sludge.
Austria is hoping for better feed-in
conditions
Although Austria could also be a more
attractive market, the countrys biogas
industry is still waiting for better feed-
in conditions since current tariffs are
hardly sufficient. Correspondingly,
biogas plant development is generally
stagnant: According to figures from the
Austrian regulatory authority E-Con-
trol, in 2012 the country produced 554
million kWh from biogas, compared to
520 million in the previous year. As of
the end of 2013, there were 380 plants
with a total electrical power rating of
111 MW online. Compared with the
total Austrian power consumption of
some 60 billion kWh, biogas therefore
represents a mere one per cent.
Across the EU, there were some 13,000
biogas plants with a total capacity of
7,000 MW online at the end of 2012.
Goals for further expansion have al-
ready been set: All EU members have
agreed their National Renewable Ener-
gy Action Plans (NREAP) with plans to
increase the usage of renewable energy
sources in some cases very signifi-
cantly. So German companies in the
biogas industry can look forward to fur-
ther attractive European export mar-
kets as soon as the countries concerned
take these plans and transform them
into political and regulatory reality.
Overseas focus on North America
Outside of Europe, German manufac-
turers have set their sights mainly on
the USA. However, the country does
not have a nationwide structure for re-
muneration yet. The feed-in tariffs are
a matter for each federal state and, ac-
cording to the industry, are often insuf-
ficient. Most of the agricultural plants
in planning are smaller farm-based
units designed to save the farmers
electricity and fuel. Nonetheless, the
first large-scale biogas upgraders are
already at the planning stage. In future,
the USA wants to regulate biogas uni-
formly, but it is not yet clear how this
will happen.
F r o m G e r m a n y A l l O v e r t h e W o r l d B i o g a s i s a n E x p o r t Hi t
The potential is huge, with the number
Photo: EnviTec
of plants in future predicted to rise to
11,000 from the current figure of more
than 2,000 comprising some 200 agri-
cultural, 700 landfill gas and 1,200 sew-
age gas plants.
Canada is also being watched closely
by German manufacturers. Here, too,
the regulations differ from province to
province. Ontario, for example, has in-
troduced tax concessions to bring about
Photo: Lipp GmbH
a desired increase in biogas usage. The
potential in Canada is attractive: In On-
tario alone, 250 MW (electrical) could
be realised with biogas.
German biogas companies are
also increasingly active overseas:
541 KW plant in Stanley, US State
of New York (above), and 3 MW
plant in Saint Hyacinthe in the
Canadian province of Quebec.
Photo: Tom Baerwald
39
 Photo: Bioconstruct GmbH
The Dahlenburg biogas plant (Lower Saxony, Germany) with direct waste heat utilisation, among other
things for nearby greenhouses, in order to use heat that would otherwise be lost.

Biogas Helps
Climate Protection
Not only does Biogas help to provide security of energy supply, it also makes an important contribution to
climate protection. Next to emissions from combustion of fossil fuels and energy sources as well as from
industry, a large proportion of emissions comes from agriculture. In 2012, around 53 per cent of methane
emissions and about 77 per cent of nitrous oxide emissions came from agriculture. The fermentation of
slurry and the subsequent energy recovery from the biogas produced thus contributes actively to climate
protection.

Biogas could therefore become a prob- A variety of substrates

lem solver for regions with intensive
livestock farming such as Brittany in
France: There manure from intensive
pig farming is discharged into the sea,
where the nitrate leads to excessive
growth of green algae. These are then
washed up on the beaches and form am-
monia and hydrogen sulphide through
decomposition. If the slurry is fer-
mented in a biogas plant, the remaining
fermentation product can be separated
into a liquid and a solid phase. This con-
centrated fertiliser can then be used in
regions where soil nutrients are need-
ed. The dependence of agriculture on
mineral fertilisers is reduced through
the use of organic nitrogen from biogas
production.
The suppliers of biogas technology,
which mostly come from Germany, have
to adjust their technology to the wide
variety of substrate inputs. Because a
tariff credit is not given for the use of re-
newable resources in most countries, the
use of energy crops hardly plays a role.
An example of the required flexibility is
illustrated by the biogas plant at Ribeau-
vill in Alsace, France. With an installed
capacity of 1,415 kW, it is currently the
largest biogas plant in France. It mainly
utilises cattle slurry and waste from the
food industry, which are still largely sup-
plied free of charge or even against pay-
ment to biogas plant operators in France.
The separation and recycling of waste
from commercial kitchens for works can-
teens and schools are now mandatory.

40 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r

Power and heat
from biogas
200t CO 2
Substrate provision
120t CO
2
Consumables/fuel and energy consumption
50t CO 2
Plant technology and construction
50t CO 2
Diffuse emissions
35t CO
2
Methane slip
Total emissions: 455t CO2
The still partially packaged food stuffs
are unpacked at a separate facility and
cleaned. The operators provide heating
for a casino and a hotel and for an ad-
jacent housing development. With or-
ganic waste, sanitising is mandatory to
prevent the spread of microorganisms.
Because of this, sanitisation units are
almost standard at French plants. As a
result, the systems are run in the ther-
mophilic range with a temperature of
around 50 C in the digester.
It is important for climate protection
reasons that high standards of emission
minimisation are also observed in the
treatment of organic waste, especially
for the greenhouse gases methane and
nitrous oxide. This is currently not al-
ways the case with simple organic and
green waste composting, as this re-
leases carbon dioxide. In addition, me-
chanical treatment and aeration of the
material requires a high-energy input.
Experts argue in favour of fermenting
organic waste in an anaerobic digestion
plant using state-of-the-art technology
and composting the digestate. In ad-
dition to the production of biogas, this
so-called cascade utilisation allows the
diverse positive effects of adding com-
post to agricultural soils to be exploited.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Power and heat of a 190 kW biogas plant compared
from fossil-fuel sources to a fossil-fuel power plant with
the same capacity
1,000t CO
Fossil electricity
100t CO 2
Fossil heat
Total emissions: 1,100t CO2
Export opportunities for waste
Photo: arturbo/istockphoto
utilisation
The problems of waste disposal, in par-
ticular, are spurring the demand for
German biogas technology. Accord-
ing to the Renewable Energy Export
Initiative of the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Energy, market
opportunities are arising in Southern
Europe and overseas. China is pursu- In comparison with power gener-
ated from fossil fuels, a 500 KW
ing ambitious goals for the expansion biogas plant prevents as much
and use of biogas: By the end of 2015, climate-damaging greenhouse
it is projected that there will be approxi gases in one year as are produced
by 1,100 cars each travelling
mately 10 million consumers of biogas 15,000 km per year.
for household use as well as 70,000
small and 8,000 medium and large bio-
Photo: CreativeNature_nl/istockphoto
gas projects.
The demand for environmentally friend-
ly energy will increase, particularly in
developing and emerging countries.
Burning solid fuels in the home using
a fireplace, which is damaging to health
and to the environment, is intended to
be phased out. The export of biogas
technology will therefore be promoted: Controlled fermentation of slurry
provided, however, that organic waste or compostable waste prevents
the discharge of climate-damag-
and sewage are used as a substrate and
ing gases such as methane, which
not specially grown energy crops. contributes significantly more to
the greenhouse effect than CO2.
In Tanzania, for example, an existing
biogas plant for waste from sisal pro-
duction has been expanded to include
a pilot biogas plant as well as a training
and education centre. This should pro-
mote the wider use of biogas technolo-
gy in Africa through knowledge trans-
fer, giving impetus for further projects.
B i o g a s H e l p s C l im a t e P r o t e c t i o n 41
Photo: iStockphoto/ Selahattin Bayram

42 B i o g a s : a n a ll - r o u n d e r
43
ompanie
Overview
Companies and brands presented at a glance (in order of appearance)

page 48 page 48 page 49 page 50

page 51 page 51 page 52 page 52

Internaonal

page 53 page 54 page 54 page 55

page 56 page 57 page 57 page 58

page 59 page 59 page 60 page 61

FINSTERWALDER
UMWELTTECHNIK
page 61 page 62 page 64 page 64

WASTE WATER Solutions

page 65 page 66 page 66 page 67

page 68 page 69 page 70 page 71

companies 44 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 page 71 page 72 page 72 page 73

page 74 page 75 page 76 page 77

page 77 page 77 page 78 page 78

page 79 page 79 page 80 page 81

page 81 page 82 page 82 page 83

page 84 page 85 page 85 page 86

page 87 page 87 page 88 page 88

page 89 page 89 page 90

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
45 COMPANIE S
Whos Who?
Companies and their business segments at a glance (in alphabetical order)

Provider of
components Operator,
and substrates, planner, Research and
page System provider supplier advisor Development
2G Energy AG 48
Agraferm Technologies AG 49
agriKomp GmbH 50

AGROTEL GmbH 48

APROVIS Energy Systems GmbH 51

Awite Bioenergie GmbH 51

BAG Budissa Agroservice GmbH 52

Baur Folien GmbH 52

BayWa AG 53
BDI BioEnergy International AG 54
BioConstruct GmbH 55
BIOFerm GmbH (Viessmann Group) 89
BMF HAASE Energietechnik GmbH 56

BTA International GmbH 54

BTS Biogas Srl/GmbH 57

dbds Deutsche Biogas Dach-Systeme
57
GmbH
DCL Europe GmbH 58

Franz Eisele und Shne GmbH & Co. KG 60

EnvironTec GmbH 59
EnviTec Biogas AG 59
Evonik Industries AG 62

FF-Maschinenbau GmbH 61
Finsterwalder Umwelttechnik GmbH &
61
Co. KG
Fliegl Agrartechnik GmbH 64

Green Energy Max Zintl GmbH 65

Green Protection GmbH 64

HUBER SE 66
ibes Ingenieurbro Dr. Eisenhardt
67
Sonneberg
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH 68

Lindner-Recyclingtech 66

LIPP GmbH 69

Mehrer Compression GmbH 70

companies 46 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 Major business segment Further business segment

Provider of
components Operator,
and substrates, planner, Research and
page System provider supplier advisor Development
MethaPOWER Biogas GmbH 71

MTU Onsite Energy GmbH 71

NETZSCH Pumpen & Systeme GmbH 72

NORTH-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH 73

KOBIT GmbH 74

OWS 75
FRITZ PAULMICHL GMBH 72
Pentair Haffmans 76
Pro2 Anlagentechnik GmbH 77
PRONOVA Analysentechnik
77
GmbH & Co. KG
PURAC PUREGAS 78
Schmack Biogas GmbH
88
(Viessmann Group)
Schmack Carbotech GmbH
89
(Viessmann Group)
SCHNELL Motoren AG 78

seepex GmbH 79

SEVA Energie AG 77

Hermann Sewerin GmbH 80

SILOKING Mayer
79
Maschinenbaugesellschaft mbH
SILOXA Engineering AG 81

streisal GmbH 81

Suma Rhrtechnik GmbH 82

THNI INDUSTRIEBETRIEBE GMBH 83
Tietjen Verfahrenstechnik GmbH 82

TV NORD GROUP 84
UGN-Umwelttechnik GmbH 85
UTS Biogastechnik GmbH 86

Viessmann Group 88
Viessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KG
88
(Viessmann Group)
WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH 85
Wolf System GmbH 87

Wulf Johannsen KG GmbH & Co. 87

Xylem Water Solutions 90

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
47 COMPANIE S
2G Energy AG
Optimisation of the entire energy generation process

2G has established itself as one of the
worlds leading manufacturers of CHP
units and aims to play an active part in
the global energy revolution. By pro-
2G ENERGY AG ducing modules for distributed power
Benzstrae 3 systems that use combined heat and
48619 Heek power, 2G makes an active contribution
Germany
to the implementation of global politi-
Phone cal climate goals and helps its custom-
+49 (0)2568 9347-0 ers beyond this, by saving them money
Fa x with their energy supply.
+49 (0)2568 9347-15
The product portfolio ranges from sys-
tems with electrical power outputs of
20kW for domestic use to large plants
with capacities of 4,000kW that gener-
ate electricity and supply heat for entire
communities. Besides its biogas oper-
ated CHP plants 2G also offers a broad
range of various products for applica-
tions with natural gas, sewage gas,
landfill gas or LFG methane.

EMail Worldwide, 2G has thousands of satis-

info@2-g.com fied customers and partners who are
Web
already convinced by the performance
www.2-g.com and quality of 2G products. 2G plants
have been successfully installed in
Y e a r fo u n d e d

1995 more than 25countries.

S ALE S V O LU M E
123.13 million (2013)

Emp l oy e e s

553

2G container solution in Latvia

AGROTEL GmbH
Manufacture, delivery and installation of gas storage and concrete protection solutions

Renewable energies, including energy

from biogas, play an important role
when it comes to the prospects for the
future. AGROTEL manufactures a vari-
AGROTEL GmbH
Gewerbegebiet Har tham 9 ety of products designed to meet the
94152 Neuhaus (Inn) needs associated with these prospects.
Germany Among the products is a double-mem-
Phone
brane gas holder for digesters and post-
+49 (0)8503 91499-0 digestion tanks a functional compo-
nent of biogas plants. The combination
Fa x

+49 (0)8503 91499-33 of high-quality membranes and V4A Biogas plant in Brandis, Germany

stainless steel offers superior quality

EMail

info@agrotel.eu
for air-inflated roof structures with inte-
grated gas holders.
Web
AGROTEL has designed and devel-
www.agrotel.eu
Despite advanced concrete technol- oped the extremely stable Wiretarp
Y e a r fo u n d e d ogy, the surfaces in concrete digest- concrete protection foil. This patented
1987
ers and post-digestion tanks that are concrete protector offers a means of
Emp l oy e e s exposed to methane gas and hydrogen ensuring optimum and long-lasting
55 sulphide require lasting protection. To protection for concrete structures
improve resistance against corrosive within biogas plants.
acid attacks in closed concrete tanks,

companies 48 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 Agraferm Technologies AG
Added value through efficient biogas technology and individual repowering systems

Biogas plant in Taverham (UK)

Our philosophy: high-quality technology for a diverse Holleben biogas plant one of the most modern biomethane plants in Europe
mix of substrates

Agraferm is one of the leading full- Furthermore, Agraferms numer-

service providers for agricultural and ous completed projects have proven
industrial biogas and biomethane that slurry-free digestion is possible
plants. Our range of services covers and, due to the wide range of possible
the design, project management and feedstocks, operators are free from a
building of AD plants as well as all the dependence on maize. Agraferm
related technical and biological ser- Technologies AG
Frberstrae 7
vices and of course repowering. Agraferm does not see repowering as
85276 Pfaf fenhofen
simply replacing or up-grading individ- Germany
In a market where feedstock is becom- ual components. For Agraferm, repow-
phone
ing scarcer and regulations regarding ering means a complete re-evaluation
+49 (0)8441 8086-100
types of feedstock stricter, Agraferm and re-design of the entire system in
customers can use feedstock that other the plant. Fa x

+49 (0)8441 8086-190

plants cannot use or can only make lim-
ited use of. Advantages of Agraferm repowering EMail

technology: info@agraferm.com

The advantages of Agraferm technology: shortening the mixing time Web

a wider range of possible feedstock more yield from the existing plant www.agraferm.com
full gas yield from smaller container optimising the gas yield from smaller Y EA R F O UN D E D
volume (2MWel from 2containers) plants 2004
efficient processing of energy plants reducing the plants energy
E M P L O Y EE S
such as maize, grass or whole grain consumption 70
plant silage new options for feedstock mix

efficient processing of agricultural

waste and by-products from the food Agraferm Technologies operates inter-
industry nationally, especially in England, Italy,
Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In
Great Britain, Agraferm Technolo-
gies is one of the market leaders in the
biogas industry.

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
49 COMPANIE S
Biogas plant at the joint bionergy villages W
ollbrandshausen and Krebek (Germany)

agriKompGmbH
One of the top three*

Everything under one roof marks with its tried-and-tested key

This has been a guiding principle
of agriKomp right up to the present
day. Having implemented more than
800 system projects around the world
and with about 500employees, the glob-
ally active Bavaria-based company is a
AGRIKOMP GMBH
leading supplier in the biogas industry.
Energiepark 2
91732 Merkendor f
Germany The complete systems manufacturer
P H O NE
has a strong focus on the fermentation
+49 (0)9826 659 59-0 of slurry and manure and covers all
fields of efficient biogas technology:
Fa x
components such as the (Biolene )
flexible gas storage tank, the (Pad-
delgigant ) agitator for renewable raw
materials and the (Vielfra) robust
feeding system. Groundbreaking plant
systems such as the first mobile Gl-
lewerk (slurry factory) biogas plant
are evidence of the illustrious record
of the agriKomp research engineering
expertise.
The international agriKomp Group

+49 (0)9826 659 59-10

The company, which was established
consulting, design and planning; in the mid-90s, is successfully repre-
EMail
plantconstruction, commissioning, sented by its own subsidiaries and part-
info@agriKomp.de
technical and biological service; ners in Germany, Great Britain, Ire-
Web
manufacture of CHP plants; land, France, Switzerland, Denmark,
www.agriKomp.de
design and build of district Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland and
Y EA R F O UN D E D heating/gas networks; Slovakia. Worldwide activities extend
2000 repowering and expansion of existing to projects in Canada, Kenya, Russia
Emp l oy e e s systems; and Romania.
500 in-house research and development.

All the essential components of a

biogas plant are developed and manu-
factured under the combined resources
of the agriKomp Group. This guaran-
tees absolute reliability and consist-
*A recent survey by the German Agricultural Society
ently excellent quality. The innovative revealed that agriKomp is among the top three com-
company has set international bench- panies in the renewable energy industry in Germany.

companies 50 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 APROVIS Energy Systems GmbH
Efficiency in CHP applications. From the experts in heat transfer

In the year 2000, a small company with We are looking forward to welcoming
a big goal was established: to make the your business soon.
best possible use of the energy from
CHP plants. To achieve this, APROVIS The basis of our success APROVIS Energy Systems
Energy Systems developed state-of- Quality GmbH
Ornbauer Strae 10
the-art, highly efficient solutions for Our products are based on state-of-the-
91746 Weidenbach
gas treatment and waste heat recovery, art technology and premium-quality Germany
which can be integrated into any heating materials; but it is our employees expert
P H O NE
concept. knowledge that ensures the best results.
+49 (0)9826 6583-0
Since then, that small company has Reliability
become a huge success. APROVIS Years of experience and excellent ser- FAX

+49 (0)9826 6583-110

Energy Systems now has an impressive vice pay off. For us, this means a strong
range of customers at both national and relationship with all major engine manu- EMail

international level. facturers, German market leadership info@aprovis-gmbh.de

and an export rate of over 60%. Web

Innovation www.aprovis-gmbh.de
We do our best for both current and Y EA R F O UN D E D

future projects. We work closely with 2000

our customers at all times, as we believe E M P L O Y EE S
progress is only real if you share it. 100

For more information visit

www.aprovis-gmbh.de

Gas cooling and cleaning unit

Awite Bioenergie GmbH

AwiFLEX Cool+ XL gas Gas analysis and automation from a single source
analysis system
process monitoring and a plant control
system that is easy to handle.
Automation has become essential to
meet such requirements.
AwiControl enables complete control of
your biogas plant at the highest level of
Awite
operational safety and low expenditure Bioenergie GmbH
on personnel. Grnseiboldsdor fer Weg 5
Full renunciation of software license 85416 Langenbach
fees is a natural course of action for us, Germany
as well as consistent realisation based Phone

Its time to take control on open-source products. +49 (0)8761 72162-0

Measuring is essential at most bio-tech- FAX
nological plants. The more precisely and +49 (0)8761 72162-11
continuously measurements are carried
EMail
out, the more they prove to be time and info@awite.de
cost-saving factors. Comprehensive
Web
process control and gas analysis are ele-
www.awite.com
mentary factors in the smooth process
flow and economic success of your plant. Y e a r fo u n d e d

2001

Satisfaction comes automatically Emp l oy e e s

33
Every biogas plant is an extremely sen-
sitive system, which requires reliable AwiControl automation solution

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
51 COMPANIE S
BAG Budissa Agroservice GmbH
Silage conservation in plastic tube bags minimum losses, flexible and highly efficient

In 1993, BAG Budissa Agroservice capacity utilisation. A government

GmbH revived the practice of ensiling
into large plastic bags, which was first
BAG Budissa known in Germany as the Eberhardt silo
Agroservice press in the 1960s. Silage conserved in
Gesellschaft mbH silo bags is very well suited to fermen-
Birnenallee 10
tation, has a long storage life and lower
OT Kleinbautzen
02694 Malschwitz ensilage losses. Different bag lengths
Germany and diameters ensure a fitting solu-
tion for farms of all sizes. Depending
P H O NE
research project has proven that using
silo bags for storage is an ecologically
sound practice. However, sufficient stor-
age space is needed.
BAG Budissa Agroservice GmbH,
based in Saxony, offers a wide range
of products and expert advice drawing
on 20years of experience working with

+49 (0)35932 356 30
FAX
+49 (0)35932 356 56
EMail
info@budissa-bag.de
Web
www.budissa-bag.de
Y EA R F O UN D E D
1994
E M P L O Y EE S
25
on requirements, this flexible, efficient more than 20countries, within and out-
process can support tonnages from side Europe, and cooperating closely
1,000 to over 30,000t per year. Different with scientific institutions in different
materials can be stored including grass locations.
and maize silage, whole plant silage,
high-moisture grain and industrial by-
products (such as pressed pulp or malt
spent grains).
This process has a payback period of
two to five years, as it does not require
any construction work or machine

Silo press RT 8000

Baur Folien GmbH

Supply and assembly of biogas storage systems and tank covers

Baur Folien GmbH

Gewerbestrae 6
87787 Wolfer tschwenden
Germany

P H O NE

+49 (0)8334 25 99 19-0 Air-supported cover with integrated gas storage sys- Air-supported cover with integrated gas storage system, dome-
tem, conical design shaped design
Fa x

+49 (0)8334 25 99 19-19

BaurFolien was founded by Peter Baur pillow-type and cylindrical biogas stor-
EMail

info@baur-folien.de and qualified engineer Dipl.-Ing. (FH)
Josef Baur in 1991. Since being estab-
Web
lished, it has supplied the biogas indus-
www.baur-folien.de
try with components and fulfilled the
y e a r fo u n d e d
demands of its clients in terms of prod-
1991
ucts, quality, service and logistics. Its
e m l oy e e s production range includes a wide variety
35
of membranes processed using modern
machines and materials. The company
manufactures leakage control systems,
age systems and single or double mem-
brane tank covers with or without inte-
grated biogas storage. The companys
product portfolio also features an exten-
sive range of accessories. Baur Folien
supplies and installs these components
for its long-established customer base,
which includes renowned plant manufac-
turers and operators.

companies 52 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
Your partner along the
biogas process chain
Our quality brands:
BayWa is an international trade and
services group with core competen-
cies in the fields of agriculture, energy
and building materials and currently
employs around 17,000 people world-
wide. In the renewable energy business
sector, the BayWa Group is now consid-
ered one of Europes most significant
project developers in the biogas, solar
and wind power markets. With firm
regional roots, Baywa has been a strong
partner for more than 90years.
We are committed to meeting customer
needs along the whole biogas process
chain:
Biomass production: BayWa provides
a full range of high-quality crop inputs
along with a professional agronomic
advisory service. One-sided crop rota-
tion or monocultures can create many
problems and we therefore place great
importance on high-performing seed
mixtures and varieties. Planterra offers
you the best seed solutions the right
seed in the right place.
Substrate procurement and trade: We
supply biogas plants with substrates
such as silage (maize, grass, WPS),
biogas crops and energy meals.
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate & Advisor
Plast
BayWa AG
Your partner along the biogas process chain
Substrate storage: To achieve optimum
substrate quality, we offer a wide variety
of solutions ranging from silo foils to silo
bags. The brand InnoPlast stands for
top-quality products for covering and
storing silage.
Process optimisation: With InnoCon BayWa AG
biogas additives, we offer you high-con- Arabellastrae 4
centration enzymes and trace minerals 81925 Munchen
that ensure effective process optimisa- Germany
tion. Our product range also includes Phone
highly efficient desulphurisation and +49 (0)89 9222-3304
fast-action antifoaming agents. Fa x
+49 (0)89 9222-3302
Agricultural technology and mainte-
EMail
nance: BayWa Stall+Systeme offers a biogas2@baywa.de
wide range of specific solutions for the
Web
construction, renovation and equipping
www.baywa.de
of farm buildings. We not only support
you through the planning, construction Y e a r fo u n d e d
1923
and completion phases but also provide
ongoing service and maintenance. Emp l oy e e s
17,000
Lubrication: The TECTROL Product
Service Package offers CHP system ope
rators an ideal combination of premium
performance engine oils and continuous
oil analysis. TECTROL METHAFLEXX
engine oils guarantee maximum reli-
ability, safety and efficiency.
development
53 COMPANIE S
BDI BioEnergy International AG
BDI BioGas: The solution for industrial and municipal waste

From waste to value: BDI develops tech- The many years experience in the
nologies for producing energy from planning and construction of industrial
waste and by-products while ensuring facilities enables BDI to provide cus-
maximum preservation of resources at tomers with tailor-made plants that ful-
BDI BioEnergy
International AG the same time! fill individual requirements.
Parkring 18
8074 Grambach/Graz BDI provides customised, turnkey All BioGas plants realised by BDI pro-
Austria BioGas-facilities with in-house devel- vide a high level of process safety and
Phone oped technologies of the highest feature the highest levels of profitabil-
+43 (0)316 4009-100 quality. From R&D, engineering and ity and innovative power.
Fa x
construction all the way through to
+43 (0)316 4009-110 after-sales services, we operate as a
EMail
true One-Stop-Shop.
bdi@bdi-bioenergy.com
The progressive BDI technology is spe-
Web

www.bdi-bioenergy.com
cially designed for the production of
BioGas from a wide range of industrial
Y e a r fo u n d e d
and municipal waste products.
1996

Emp l oy e e s

110

Industrial BioGas production, distinguished

by maximum profitability and productivity

BTA International GmbH

BTA Process biogas & compost from organic waste

If you are looking for high biogas yield
and a possibility to produce quality
Internaonal
digestate or compost, the BTA Pro-
cess is your solution.
BTA International GmbH
Frberstrae 7
85276 Pfaf fenhofen an der Ilm Due to its high flexibility for substrates
Germany with a wide range of TS content as well
Phone
as different impurities contents, and
+49 (0)8441 8086-600 its high efficiency in separating these
contraries before anaerobic digestion,
Fa x
The BTAProcess ensures operational
security, maximum capture of the
digestible organic matter, clean rejects
and a digestate contrary level below the
requirements for superior compost.
With 30years of experience and over
40plants worldwide, BTA Internation-
al GmbH is your professional partner
for the wet mechanical pre-treatment

+49 (0)8441 8086-690 the BTAProcess has multiple applica- and wet anaerobic digestion of practi-
tions: cally all types of organic waste.
EMail
MBT plants for municipal solid waste
info@bta-international.de
methanation plants for organic waste,
Web
food waste and/or commercial waste
www.bta-international.de
co-digestion with agricultural
Y e a r fo u n d e d substrates
1984 as BTA GmbH & Co. KG
co-digestion with sewage sludge
2006 re-foundation

S ALE S V O LU M E

approx. 9 million

Emp l oy e e s

30
Biowaste methanation plant in Kirchstockach,
Germany, in operation since 1997

companies 54 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development

A view of BioConstructs headquarters and the companys own anaerobic digestion plant
In line with our slogan Intelligent biogas plants, BioConstruct has been constructing
Since its incorporation, BioConstruct
has successfully commissioned more
than 200plants with an installed capac-
ity of more than 100MW.
Our portfolio of realised projects
includes:
agricultural plants processing energy
crops or co-fermentation plants with
liquid or solid manure
plants with difficult/more complex
input materials such as > 90% grass
silage, dung, slaughterhouse waste
and food waste
biogas plants with biomethane
upgrading and gas-to-grid
technology
high-end industrial biogas plants up
to 5.1MW
high-efficiency plants with heat
usages for industry, local heating
distribution companies and
greenhouses as well as for electricity
providers
industrial waste fermentation systems
BioConstruct has international experi-
ence in the realisation of projects in Italy,
the Czech Republic, the Netherlands,
Turkey, Estonia, Latvia and the UK.
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate & Advisor
Biogas pretreatment and CHP unit
Managing directors Mehmet nal, Henrik Borgmeyer,
Matthias Kief and Kai Roth
BioConstruct GmbH
turnkey biogas systems since 2001
Only materials able to withstand the
strain of continuous operation are used
in our plants. BioConstruct technol-
ogy meets the most rigorous standards
BioConstruct GmbH
and is permanently monitored by a fault Wellingstrae 66
management system that is continuously 49328 Melle
improving due to our broad experience Germany
in the operation of 20biogas plants, most P H O NE
of which are majority-owned by Bio- +49 (0)5226 59 32-0
Construct. The plants are meticulously
Fa x
planned, exceedingly low-maintenance +49 (0)5226 59 32-11
and furnish the highest yields as a result.
EMail
info@bioconstruct.de
For BioConstruct, turnkey plant con-
struction means performing prof- Web
www.bioconstruct.de
itability forecasts, individual plant
designing, obtaining necessary approv- Y EA R F O UN D E D
2001
als, service and maintenance and even
operation of the plants. S ALE S V O LU M E
75 million
In a nutshell, BioConstructs involve- E M P L O Y EE S
ment does not end with the handover 90
of a plant. BioConstruct sees itself as a
partner, not only during the construc-
tion phase but rather throughout the
whole lifetime of a biogas plant, and
supports clients in matters pertaining
to the biological process, technology
and financial ways of optimising the
plants.
development
55 COMPANIE S

BMF HAASE Energietechnik GmbH
Cutting-edge components ensure optimum utilisation of technical equipment
A new chapter has begun. Due to the com-
plete takeover by the BMF Group based
BMF HAASE in Bren (North Rhine-Westphalia) and
Energietechnik GmbH a corresponding name change, BMF
Oderstrae 76 HAASE Energietechnik GmbH is facing
24539 Neumnster
a bright future. Industrial expertise and
Germany
financial stability complement the exist-
P H O NE ing industry know-how.
+49 (0)4321 878-0
Fa x The BMF Group, consisting of more
+49 (0)4321 878-29 than 800employees and over 120engi-
EMail neers, stands for creativity, system
info@bmf-haase.de security and quality. Under the motto
Web
technology with ideas, the groups includes gas engines and generators
www.bmf-haase.de companies provide new and intelligent
technological solutions. Long-standing
Y EA R F O UN D E D
2012 relationships with reputable customers
in the automotive industry (including
E M P L O Y EE S
VW, Audi, Daimler and BMW), the
110
machine tool industry (e.g. DMG Mori
Seiki, formerly Gildemeister) and the
computer industry (e.g. Wincor Nix-
dorf) form the history of this owner-
managed company.
Utmost efficiency
BMF HA ASE Energietechnik GmbH
supplies industrial quality and innova-
tions in the areas of gas processing,
combined heat and power generation,
and water treatment.
companies 56 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
BMF HAASE Flare
BMF HAASE Biogas Upgrader
Flares
Flares from BMF HAASE provide reli-
able, environmentally friendly emer-
gency disposal of sewage and landfill gas
as well as raw biogas and biomethane.
Excess gas is burned off automatically
in the case of the unplanned shutdown
of gas engines or upgrading facilities.
CHP
The Container-CHP for the conversion
of biogas, landfill gas and natural gas
into electrical energy by BMF HA ASE
as well as control systems and process
visualisation. They can also be option-
ally equipped with gas treatment, a
gas compressor, continuous gas analy-
sis, heat extraction or a condensate
separator.
Biogas Upgrader
The BMF HA ASE Biogas Upgrader
refines biogas to biomethane by
organic-physical scrubbing. This par-
ticularly efficient method is character-
ised by low methane emissions and low
power consumption.
Service
Substrate & Advisor development
 BTS Biogas Srl/GmbH
The right choice! Innovation is our passion!

BTS Biogas also offers biological sup-

The new BTS Biogas Technical Module: integrated plug & produce
management system
BTS Biogas designs, installs, con-
structs and operates biogas power
plants.
Numerous experiences have contrib-
port and consulting and utilises some
of its resources for developing suitable
software to computerise management
of the plants. It also has a laboratory in
Porto Mantovano (Italy) that is com-
pletely dedicated to the biogas world:
BTS Biogas Srl/GmbH
METANlab. It is equipped with the S. Lorenzo Street 34
most sophisticated instruments, which 39031 Brunico/Bruneck
allows the company to perform all kinds Italy
of analyses. P H O NE
+39 0474 370119
Our plants are monitored on a daily
EMail
basis by the BTS Biogas technical team info@bts-biogas.com
and the dedicated biological support
Web
staff; their aim is to optimise seeding, www.bts-biogas.com
harvesting, ensilage, drawing and the
biological management of the biogas Y EA R F O UN D E D

2008
uted to the development of unique tech- plant.
nologies in the biogas world such as E M P L O Y EE S

100
the BIOaccelerator or BIOdry which BTS Biogas has built more than
increase and optimise the productivity 176 plants all over Europe with more
and profitability of our power plants. than 136MW of installed electric power.

dbds Deutsche Biogas Dach-Systeme GmbH

roof systems for biogas plants

dbds stands for absolute precision,
efficiency and the greatest possible
customer orientation.
All dbds products have been devel-
oped and implemented in compliance
with current laws, directives, techni-
developed and produced especially for
use with biogas plants. The membranes
are flame retardant according to DIN
dbds Deutsche Biogas
4102 and EN 13501, methane perme- Dach-Systeme GmbH
ability is significantly below the stan Am Burgholz 15
dard limits; the industrially manufac- 52372 Kreuzau
tured high-frequency welding seams Germany

cal standards and recommendations. are up to 8cm wide. P H O NE

These include the structural analysis of +49 (0)2421 59183-0

our roofs according to EN 1991-1 con- Our services and products comprise: Fa x
sidering snow and wind loads, as well +49 (0)2421 59183-59
as their adaptation for all tank systems. single and double-shell roof systems EMail
All materials used by dbds have been up to 40m info@dbds-gmbh.de
individual customer solutions for
Web
gas storage volume, roof design, www.dbds-gmbh.de
roof segments, anchoring systems,
y e a r fo u n d e d
substructures
2011
services

installation, repair and maintenance E M P L O Y EE S

12
technical components

Gas treatment system with 18mbar processing pressure

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
57 COMPANIE S
 DCL catalyst element in production

DCL Mine-X, Quick-Lid catalytic converters and Metalcor catalyst elements DCLs Siloxane Removal Technology (SRT) System

DCL Europe GmbH

The local expertise you deserve from a global leader in emissions control solutions

DCL is a manufacturer and retailer of
emissions control technology with over
28years of experience. DCLs vertically
integrated approach to product develop-
ment provides highly customised solu-
DCL Europe GmbH
Im Haindell 1
tions, shorter lead times and greater
65843 Sulzbach am Taunus quality control which translates into
Germany outstanding performance, longer prod-
Phone
uct life and lower cost of ownership for
+49 (0)6196 500225 our customers.
Fa x
DCLs products are tailored for your
unique needs and specifications to
ensure you get the optimal solution to
achieve your emissions or toxin removal
targets. Our product designs also facili-
tate the replacement of catalyst ele-
ments, which greatly reduces mainte-
nance costs, and our warehouse service
ensures fast delivery of replacement
parts for many standard catalyst sizes.
DCL technicians are also available for

+49 (0)5149 207483 The DCL Europe GmbH sales and ser- onsite visits to conduct measurements
vice subsidiary is dedicated to providing and emissions analyses, and our local
EMail
the highest level of customer service partners can provide catalyst cleaning
info@dcl-europe.com
including fast and expert product and and recycling.
Web
sales support. Our technically trained
www.dcl-europe.com
sales professionals work closely with DCL is committed to providing excep-
our engineering and manufacturing tional customer service and continu-
teams and are strategically located ously developing and improving our
across Europe to provide local emis- products to ensure we meet and exceed
sions regulation expertise. DCLs prod- our customers expectations.
ucts for biogas, sewage and landfill
gas applications include replacement
catalyst elements, catalytic convert-
ers, sound attenuation, heat recovery
and gas pre-treatment solutions such
as siloxane removal. Our MINE-X,
QUICK-LID and METALCOR brands
are internationally recognised for qual-
ity and reliability.

companies 58 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 EnvironTec GmbH
Success through innovative corporate philosophy and trend-setting products

EnvironTec specialises in the design, and construction, as well as for private

supply and installation of gas treat- investors.
ment systems. In addition to equipping
anaerobic digesters, we are active in We specialise in the selling and mar-
the fields of gas purification, gas stor- keting of high-quality components for
EnvironTec GmbH
age and the utilisation of gas all in gas equipment used at waste water Schilfweg 1
one. treatment and biogas plants at advanta- 6972 Fussach
geous prices for optimum benefit to our Austria
As a company with many years of expe- customers. We are primarily a manu- P H O NE
rience and a motivated workforce, we facturer of systems and, if required, we +43 (0)5578 77005
work for local authorities and com- are able to supply turn-key facilities to
Fa x
panies engaged in plant engineering any part of the world. +43 (0)5578 77005-300

EMail
In order to develop new markets, we info@environtec.at
are continuously searching for new
partners who wish to benefit from the Web

www.environtec.at
advantages and surpluses for them-
selves and their customers. y e a r fo u n d e d

2005

Algeria, pressureless gas holder TGZ 6,800m3

EnviTec Biogas AG
Quality biogas plant construction by EnviTec Biogas

EnviTec Biogas AG
Industriering 10a
49393 Lohne
Germany

P H O NE

+49 (0)4442 8016-8100

Fa x

+49 (0)4442 8016-98100

EnviThan gas upgrading system with membrane technology EnviTec plants set industry standards
EMail

info@envitec-biogas.com
Politicians worldwide recognise the key construction and commissioning of
advantages of biogas as a renewable, biogas plants and services. Web

www.envitec-biogas.com
decentralised energy source, and are
supporting plant operators and inves- EnviTec plants generate clean energy Y EA R F O UN D E D

2002
tors. When exploring new markets, we from organic waste, slurry, manure or
combine our vast experience in plant renewable raw materials. S ALE S V O LU M E

construction and operation with the Our clients benefit from qualified spe- 148.8 million (2013)

knowledge of regional partners. cialist support 24hours a day. In addi- E M P L O Y EE S

tion to EnviTecs wide-ranging experi- 350

We provide services covering the entire ence and support, we provide high-end
value chain of biogas and biomethane technology and set standards in effi-
production, including planning, turn- ciency, safety and reliability.

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
59 COMPANIE S
Franz Eisele & Shne GmbH & Co. KG
EISELE pump and machinery production based on experience and tradition
Hailing from the Swabian town of
Sigmaringen, family company Franz
EISELE & Shne GmbH u. Co. KG
offers a diverse range of products for
energy-producing farmers, and special-
ises in the storage, conveyance, homog-
Franz Eisele u. Shne enisation, spreading and transportation
GmbH u. Co. KG of liquid manure. Biogas plant compo-
Hauptstrae 24 nents complete the product range and
72488 Sigmaringen
have been built by EISELE for over
Germany
25 years. These include submersible
P H O NE
motor-driven agitators with gas-tight
+49 (0)7571 109-0
operation in various models:
Fa x
+49 (0)7571 109-88
forconcrete floor digesters which
EMail either have a drive-over ramp or
info@eisele.de a quick access cover with a lifting
Web device
www.eisele.de
forcontainers with membrane gas
Y EA R F O UN D E D
1887 holders, the range includes a lateral
access model which offers the pos-
E M P L O Y EE S
95 sibility of automatic extension and
retraction of the agitator. Thanks to a
service shaft with an upward-opening
cover, the agitator can be removed
from the digester for servicing with-
out it becoming necessary to uncover
the gas holder
companies 60 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
EISELE submersible agitators are
available with output ratings of between
2.2 and 15kW. Only devices with power
outputs of 7.5, 11, 15, 18.5 or 22kW, how-
ever, are used in biogas plants, whereby
11 and 15kW agitator models are also
available with ATEX certification for
explosive atmospheres. All fittings are
manufactured from stainless steel and
the motors are constructed by EISELE.
Thanks to their versatile application
potential, vertical, submersible motor
and rotary pumps ensure the flawless
mixing and pumping of liquid manure
or fermentation substrate and are
supplied with power outputs ranging
from 7.5 to 22kW (bespoke models on
request). Its extensive range of pumps
therefore allows EISELE to satisfy
all the requirements of agricultural
operation.
A combined overpressure/underpres-
sure safety device made from stain-
less steel guarantees safe pressure
within the fermenter and thus gives it
protection.
Substrate & Advisor development
 FF-Maschinenbau GmbH
For your biogas plant innovative mixing technology and components of the highest quality

FF-Maschinenbau GmbH, founded the wet fermentation process involving

in 1993, has grown into a modern, liquid manure and other suspensions.
medium-sized company active through- The solids floating on the liquid are
out Europe. In the last few years, FF- sucked in and mixed into the suspen-
Maschinenbau has established itself as sion. Throughputs of up to 1.75m/s are
a recognised specialist for pumps, flow possible and that with only a 15-kW
agitators and mounting assemblies. power unit.
FF-Maschinenbau GmbH
Of particular note is the FF ZM Com- Europark 1
pulsory Mixer, which enables a very Products: 01773 Altenberg
thorough mixing of solids that are to be compulsory mixers Germany
transferred via reception tank systems standard mounting assembly
phone
and hydrolysers to the digesters during for pumps and agitators, or +49 (0)35056 236-0
made-to-measure
FAX
agitators +49 (0)35056 236-10
pumps
EMail
liquid manure technology
info@f f-pumpen.de
installation of systems and pipe runs
Web

www.f f-pumpen.de

Y EA R F O UN D E D

1993

EBV gas-tight mounting assembly VA 1.4571

Finsterwalder Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Anaerobic biowaste recycling with Fitec technology

of food waste. The machines and the

process undergo continuous optimi-
sation based on our own operational FINSTERWALDER
experience. Our machine technology UMWELTTECHNIK
portfolio includes, among other things,
Finsterwalder Umwelt-
technologies for contaminant separa- technik GmbH & Co. KG
tion (Biosqueeze) and the continuous Mailinger Weg 5
cleaning of the anaerobic digester (floor 83233 Bernau a. Chiemsee
scraper and floating matter skimmer). Germany

P H O NE

Biogas plant Langage Farm (Plymouth, UK)
Finsterwalder Umwelttechnik GmbH&
Co.KG (FITEC) specialises in the
design of waste anaerobic digestion
plants and the development of the
associated process-engineered compo-
nents, which are also marketed inde-
pendently of the design contracts.
All of the components must first prove
FITEC systems are capable of process- +49 (0)8051 965910-0
ing and treating all types of material Fa x
from contaminant-free liquid wastes +49 (0)8051 965910-20
and packaged foodstuffs to waste from EMail
the green bin. The process technology info@fitec.com
is extremely robust and durable and
Web
guarantees maximum availability. www.fitec.com
Y EA R F O UN D E D
Our in-house simulation software fore-
1997
casts the biological behaviour of the
anaerobic digester as a function of the E M P L O Y EE S

12
themselves during a long-term period system configuration and the feed-in
of trial operation in our in-house biogas conditions, thus optimising the yield.
plant used for the anaerobic digestion

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
61 COMPANIE S

Evonik Industries AG
Energy efficient biogas upgrading with Sepuran Green
Close-up view of a single hollow fiber
[scanning electron microscope]
companies
Evonik Industries is one of the worlds
leading producers of specialty chemi-
cals, with over forty years of experience
in polymer chemistry, and operations
in over 100 countries throughout the
world. We offer hollow-fibre membrane
cartridges for efficient, energy-saving
biogas upgrading.
Our membrane technology: offering
you every advantage for small- and
large-scale system applications
Evoniks membrane-based biogas
upgrading method results in unusually
high plant availability, extremely low
energy demand and low maintenance
costs. In addition, upgrading does not
generate any waste or emissions, nor
does it require any auxiliaries (such
as water or sorbents). All of these ben-
efits serve directly to keep costs down.
Plus, the tremendous flexibility of the
method makes membrane technology
applicable to small- and to large-scale
systems alike. Yet another advantage of
this technology is that it can be easily
adapted to changeable flow rates and
gas compositions.
62 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
System setup of SEPURAN biogas plant
Robust and selective: hollow-fiber
membranes from Evonik
The process of separating gases
through polymer membranes takes
advantage of the fact that gas molecules
differ both in their size and in their solu-
bility within the polymer. Because CO2
molecules are smaller than methane
molecules and dissolve more readily in
the polymer, they diffuse through the
membrane micropores considerably
faster. This means that methane col-
lects on the high-pressure side of the
membrane, while water vapor, ammo-
nia, hydrogen sulfide and most of the
CO2 pass through the membrane.
Its high level of selectivity makes
SEPURAN especially suitable for sep-
arating CO2 and methane.
In just one step, our membrane mol-
ecules separate carbon dioxide and
methane far better than competing
membranes, offering market-leading
CO2/CH4 selectivity.
& Advisor development
SEPURAN Green cartridge in detail

As a result, our membranes can be used Our service

for purifying the methane in raw gas to
over 99percent, thus generating waste
gas containing less than 0.5 percent
methane. This means that nearly all of
the methane obtained from fermenta-
tion is of biomethane quality.
Working with our OEM partners and
plant engineering firms, we will develop
superior process solutions for your spe- Evonik Fibres GmbH
cific regional biogas separation tasks. Gewerbepark 4
4861 Schr fling
Austria
gas separation technology based on
hollow-fibre membranes Phone

An innovative concept for connecting process design for membrane-based

+43 (0)7672 7013016

individual membrane elements is a key biogas upgrading fa x

factor for the success of a biogas plant. We work with knowledgeable plant- +43 (0)7672 96862
Evonik has developed a method (patent engineering partners who offer EMail
pending) of purifying biogas and inject- system solutions on the market. sepuran@evonik.com
ing it into the natural gas grid in a sin- Web
gle condensation step. www.sepuran.com

S ALE S V O LU M E
Our references 12.7 billion
The number of biogas facilities using
e mp l oy e e s
SEPUR AN Green has been growing
33,000
continuously since 2012, with plants
already operating in Germany, Great
Britain, France, Sweden, Thailand and
China. Implementation is also under-
way at other plants in Norway, Nether-
lands, Korea and the U.S., for instance.

SEPURAN hollow fibre membranes Biogas upgrading container by Evonik

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
63 COMPANIE S
Fliegl Agrartechnik GmbH
Greater energy efficiency with Fliegl biogas technology

Fliegl feeder systems for biogas plants In addition to the Biomat feeder,
are robust, durable and low-mainte- Fliegls biogas innovations also include
nance. Worldwide more than 1,300sys- a new self-propelled container and the
tems are in operation with capacity vol- koDry integrated system for wood
Fliegl Agrartechnik
GmbH umes ranging from 5 to 246m3. chip and sludge drying.
Brgermeister-Boch-Strae 1
84453 Mhldor f am Inn The Biomat system can be matched
Germany exactly to each biogas plant with a vari-
P H O NE ety of different attachments offering
+49 (0)8631 307-0 maximum flexibility: top and bottom
Fa x
input with the Rondomat attachment,
+49 (0)8631 307-552 MultiMix or screw systems and output
EMail
through a pump or shredder. Dosed
dosier technik@fliegl.com feeding provides smooth and safe oper-
ation with all substrates. The feeder
Web

www.fliegl.com
www.agro-center.de
containers use the patented Fliegl
push-off technology and are made of
highly acid-resistant PE-plastic. The
Fliegl Biomat has a low energy con-
sumption of 0.41 kW per tonne.

Fliegl feeder systems for biogas plants are robust,

durable and low-maintenance.

Green Protection GmbH

Sealing systems concrete protection processes

Concrete protection is indispensable in To date, GREEN PROTECTION GP

biogas plants, drainage and sewage sys- concrete protection systems have been
tems and agricultural facilities, where integrated into more than 7,000 con-
concrete is attacked by various acids tainers within biogas systems and other
Green Protection GmbH
Oberdombach 22 and alkalis. These can result in the plants both in Germany and worldwide.
91522 Ansbach concrete dissolving or expanding and
Germany cracking.
phone

+49 (0)9823 9246680 The concrete protection systems sup-

plied by GREEN PROTECTION are
FAX

+49 (0)9823 9269-26 modular, meaning that they both com-

plement and build on one another.
EMail

info@green-protection.eu
Web
www.green-protection.eu
y e a r fo u n d e d
2010
The impermeability of the structures
is also subject to stringent require-
ments. GREEN PROTECTION GmbH
has therefore additionally developed
products and processes that take these
requirements into account, and moreo-
ver provides suitable systems for any
necessary restoration work.
Without GP concrete protection So choose
GP concrete protection

companies 64 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
Agricultural farmyard biogas plant for refining liquid manure and waste materials generated by livestock CHiP Tuner exhaust gas heat exchanger
husbandry as part of an ecological recycling process

Green Energy Max Zintl GmbH

We shape the future based on considerable past experience

Green Energy Max Zintl GmbH, with
more than 15 years experience in the
biogas industry, is your professional
and reliable partner in all things biogas.
We can provide you with support from
the initial idea and the design stage to
the realisation of your individual biogas
plant.
Our team will support you with coordi-
nating the overall workflow throughout
the construction phase. This allows you
to profit from our customised compo-
nents, which are the products of our
Green Energy
expertise and many years of practical Max Zintl GmbH
experience. Marktredwitzer Str. 65a
95666 Mitter teich
Germany

We believe that any good consultancy We shape the future based on consid- Phone

service for the realisation and construc- erable innovation +49 (0)9633 92344-0
tion of biogas plants should be based on If you operate a CHP plant dont just Fa x
personal experience. With us and our generate a lot of hot air use your ther- +49 (0)9633 92344-19
experienced engineers, you can rely on mal potential! EMail
this 100%. Our CHiP Tuner exhaust gas heat info@green-energy-zintl.de
exchanger allows you to reclaim up
Web
Developing an economical, logical to an additional 30% heat output from www.green-energy-zintl.de
overall concept for your new or exist- the residual heat in exhaust gas under
Y e a r fo u n d e d
ing plant is the basis of our daily activi- 220C. The wear-free, self-cleaning,
2006
ties. We will work with you to prepare durable graphite heat exchanger cools
a cost-efficient concept, tailor-made to the exhaust heat by up to 80C. E M P L O Y EE S

50
your operation based on your ideas and
requirements. This applies to both the Do you have any questions?
optimisation and extension of existing We have the answers!
plants and for the design and implemen- Comprehensible and based on practical
tation of new projects. experience

www.biogas-shop.de

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
65 COMPANIE S
Huber SE
Advanced separation technology for maximum yields

WASTE WATER Solutions

HUBER SE
Industriepark Erasbach A1
92334 Berching
Germany

P H O NE

+49 (0)8462 201-0

Ro 5 Bio combined sand and contaminants STRAINPRESS Sludgecleaner SP for foam separation
Fa x separation
+49 (0)8462 201-810
HUBER SE, based in Berching, is a Proven plant engineering technology
EMail

info@huber.de
globally active company in the field of used in wastewater treatment has been
water purification, wastewater treat- adapted and developed to the demands
Web
ment and sludge processing. The of high biogas yields with special puri-
www.huber.de
company was founded over 175 years fication technology and processing of
Y EA R F O UN D E D ago and is active in some 60countries fermentation residues. HUBER SE sup-
1834
through subsidiaries, agencies and dis- plies engineering and process solutions
E M P L O Y EE S tribution partners. for liquid waste acceptance, efficient
> 600 (in Berching)
separation and processing of sand and
contaminants, dewatering of fermenta-
tion residues and process and wastewa-
ter treatment.

Lindner-Recyclingtech
Advanced shredding solutions for biogas plant substrate preparation

The Limator is a versatile, modular

impact crusher for processing of renew-
able raw materials, waste products and
spoiled foodstuffs for biogas plants. The
Lindner-Recyclingtech heart of the machine consists of special
GmbH
moving crusher plates which macerate
Villacher Strae 48
9800 Spittal/Drau
the added materials in an optimised
Austria manner for biogas processing:

Phone
reducing the dwell time
+43 (0)4762 2742 0
Special moving crusher plates
in the digester
Fa x
increasing the spectrum
+43 (0)4762 2742 9032
Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH devel- of fermentation substrates
EMail
ops, designs, manufactures and mar- reducing stirring times
of fice@l-r t.com
kets shredding and crushing technol- and floating layers
Web ogy for a wide variety of application
www.l-r t.com areas. Since the introduction of the
Y e a r fo u n d e d advanced Limator impact crusher at
1948 the end of 2012, the biogas industry has
Emp l oy e e s also been included and now benefits
200 from the many decades of experience
and innovative strength of this special-
ist in crushing and shredding technol-
ogy from Austria. LINDNER Limator 1200

companies 66 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development

Biogas plant in Neusitz, Germany
ibes Ingenieurbro Dr. Eisenhardt Sonneberg
In our role as a planning office, we sup-
port you every step of the way from
the moment your idea is born until
your plant is commissioned! We have
been providing all the engineering ser
vices necessary for this for more than
14years. Thanks to site-specific plan-
ning, we design efficient biogas plants
that meet your expectations and are
characterised by excellent investment
and operating costs.
As a specialist engineering office, we
are able to custom design process
engineering and equipment without
having to take manufacturers inter-
ests into account. We construct biogas
plants of all sizes for the fermentation
of slurry, renewable raw materials and
cofermentation substrates that are tai-
lored to fit their individual locations.
We carry out all of our engineering
services independently.
Our biogas plants are characterised by
their single-stage or multi-stage con-
crete digesters that are heated with
stainless steel heating registers. The
agitators and pumps are adapted to the
substrate type and an external organic
desulphurisation system prevents bio-
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate & Advisor
Biogas plant in Oberwellenborn, Germany
Fermentation residue dryer in Muntscha, Germany
Comprehensive engineering services for biogas
genic corrosion in the digester. The
CHP plant technology works with Otto
gas engines or micro gas turbines and
the control systems used for all control
tasks boast process visualisation tech- ibes Ingenieurbro
niques and an internet connection, Dr. Eisenhardt
GmbH & Co. KG
plus plant monitoring with an integrat-
Or tstrae 25
ed Telenot security system. 96515 Sonneberg
Germany
We have already planned and imple-
Phone
mented various methods of using +49 (0)3675 745141
the waste heat produced, namely fer-
Fa x
mentation residue drying, absorption
+49 (0)3675 809314
cooling and feed-in to district heating
networks. The project planning and EMail
eisenhardt.sonneberg@t-online.de
construction work is computerised,
meaning that we are able to process all Web
special requests quickly and precisely. www.dr-eisenhardt.de
Planning, site management, commis- Y e a r fo u n d e d
sioning and after-sales ser v ices are 1997
performed by engineers with many
years of experience in the field.
Our biogas plants have been approved
and certified by the TV, guarantee-
ing our customers maximum safety
and reliability.
2 x 200 kWel micro gas
turbine plant in Muntscha, Germany
development
67 COMPANIE S
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
INNOVATIVE IRON OXIDE FOR desulfurization OF BIOGAS

The LANXESS Inorganic Pigments LANXESS Inorganic Pigments has

business unit is one of the worlds developed a technical oxide for the des-
leading manufacturers of inorganic ulfurization of biogas.
pigments, with a broad and innova- BayoxideE16 is a highly effective syn-
LANXESS Deutschland tive product range and acknowledged thetic iron oxide for reducing hydrogen
GmbH expertise in technical service. The sulphide in biogas that can be added
Business Unit
business unit has a global presence directly to the fermentation reactor.
Inorganic Pigments
Ulrich-Gregor Hermanns
with production facilities in Germany, Our new product is a cost-effective alter-
China and Brazil as well as additional native to conventional desulfurization
Web
mixing and milling facilities in Aus- processes, such as the use of activated
www.lanxess.com
www.bayferrox.com tralia, the UK, Spain and the USA. carbon. BayoxideE16 is very effective
on account of its purity levels of almost
Phone
Iron oxide and chromium oxide pig- 100%. In contrast to comparable prod-
+49 (0)2151 88-2116
ments from LANXESS Inorganic Pig- ucts, a metering system is not necessary,
Y e a r fo u n d e d
ments are distinguished by their high meaning BayoxideE16 is very simple to
2004
quality and simple, standards-compliant use, explains Gregor Hermanns, techni-
S ALE S V O LU M E and environmentally-compatible pro- cal oxides expert in the LANXESS Inor-
8.3 billion (2013)
cessing. ganic Pigments business unit.
Emp l oy e e s
16,900

Production process of biogas PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES

OF BAYOXIDE E16
Prevention of damage caused by
corrosion
Safe to handle
No risk of explosive mixtures
Fulfils the German guidelines in
the Fertilizer Ordinance (DMV)
Simple dosing
Clean, dust-free handling
Cost reduction due to efficient
desulfurization

companies 68 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development

Founded in 1958 by the inventor Xaver
Lipp, Lipp GmbH is a globally active
family-run company which specialises
in the planning and design of biogas
plants and the construction of digesters
and tanks.
This success is based on the unique and
patented Lipp Double Fold System in
which the steel bands are folded in an
automated process and permanently
interconnected to one another. The
patented VERINOX stainless steel com-
posite material, manufactured by Lipp
itself, is another unique selling point
and guarantees the highest quality and
durability of the biogas digesters at a
low cost.
Lipp supplies two types of digesters in
various sizes:
1. The LIPP KomBio digesters, with
integrated gas accumulator for up to
2,500m3
2. The LIPP Universal digesters, with
stainless steel diaphragm cover
or air-supported cover for up to
5,000m3 and more
Agricultural biogas plant, 600kW, Tannhausen, Germany
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
LIPP GmbH
Flexible and efficient tanks and system solutions for biogas plants
The benefits of LIPP at a glance:
quick, automated on-site fabrication
very low space requirement during
assembly
constant high quality worldwide
flexibility in terms of diameter, height
and cover
long service life
GmbH
low investment costs
Industriestrae 27
73497 Tannhausen
All these benefits always make LIPP the Germany
right choice as a digester and tank spe- P H O NE
cialist and partner for the planning and +49 (0)7964 9003-0
design of small- and large-scale plants.
Fa x
Lipp GmbH uses the Lipp Double Fold +49 (0)7964 9003-27
System to produce biogas digesters,
EMail
secondary digesters, hydrolysis mixing
info@lipp-system.de
tanks and final storage facilities, along
with a multitude of other storage contain- Web
www.lipp-system.de
ers for liquids, gases and bulk goods.
Y EA R F O UN D E D
1958
In addition to its tank solutions,
Lipp GmbH also most notably offers E M P L O Y EE S
its customers and partners around the 50
globe planning services and expertise
for the design of biogas plants. The
companys many decades of experience
in the biogas sector and container con-
struction provide a solid foundation for Universal digester with gas-tight stainless steel
this and offer a great advantage. diaphragm cover up to 5,000m3
KomBio Digester and Universal secondary digester
Water and waste water containers with or without
cover from 100m3 to 10,000m3 and more
& Advisor development
69 COMPANIE S

TVZ 900 compressor for biomethane injection
Mehrer Compression GmbH
Biogas processing and biogas grid injection
Mehrer Compression GmbH is syn-
onymous with quality and reliability.
The company ranks among the worlds
leading manufacturers of oil-free pis-
ton and diaphragm compressors for
Mehrer Compression
GmbH process gas applications with an output
Rosenfelder Strae 35 range of 2.2 to 250 kW and pressures
72336 Balingen of up to 1,000 bar (absolute pressure).
Germany They are primarily used in the media-
P H O NE independent deposition, grid injection,
+49 (0)7433 26 05-0 extraction, purification, storage and
Fa x
drying of gas.
+49 (0)7433 26 05-41
EMail
In addition to its activities in vari-
info@mehrer.de ous sectors and areas of application,
Mehrer also produces environmentally
Web
www.mehrer.de
friendly compressor solutions. In this
field, Mehrer units make an important
y e a r fo u n d e d
contribution to the permanent treat-
1889
ment of potable water. The company
E M P L O Y EE S
devotes particular attention to design-
approx. 120
ing solution-oriented biogas compres-
sors, which are chiefly characterised
by their ease of installation and reliable
operation in container stations.
Whether biogas processing or biometh-
ane injection Mehrers oil-free piston
and diaphragm compressors always
guarantee reliable, efficient, fail-safe
plant operation.
companies 70 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
TRZ 700 compressor for biomethane injection
TRE 700 compressor for biogas upgrading
Headquartered in Balingen, Southern
Germany, and a family-run enterprise
since its foundation in 1889, Mehrer is
one of the worlds oldest compressor
manufacturers, and one that is steeped
in tradition. Production, design and
development take place exclusively
at the companys headquarters, thus
ensuring that the high production qual-
ity of the plants is sustained. Mehrer
has been renowned since the 1970s for
the design and manufacture of dry cyl-
inder piston compressors and compres-
sor units in particular. In addition to our
plant commissioning and maintenance
services, designing compressors and
compressing plants to meet bespoke,
process-specific requirements in
numerous markets has enabled us to
gain cutting-edge expertise, which in
turn has made us a solution-oriented
partner for companies across the world.
Mehrer will continue to promote
resource-saving, media-independent
gas compression, and in future will also
provide outstanding tailored servicing
solutions and manageable, secure oper-
ation costs.
& Advisor development
 MethaPOWER Biogas GmbH
From waste to value Biogas upgrading systems from one of the leading partners

MethaPOWER Biogas designs and membrane technology for upgrading

realises tailor-made upgrading plants the produced biogas to biomethane.
according to customers substratum
MethaPOWER Biogas
on stock, utilising agro-industry waste, MethaPOWER is a shareholder and GmbH
municipal waste and other organic operator of fermentation and biogas Burgring 1/4
material. The unique aspect of the upgrading plants in Austria, Germany 1010 Wien
MethaPOWER Biogas plant is the inno- and Italy. In June 2014, the Austrian Austria

vative inlay material cracking, state-of- enterprise won the Sustainable Energy Phone

the-art substrate management the bio- Europe Award for its biogas upgrading +43 (0)1 5812141
gas plant only processes agricultural plant in Margarethen am Moos Aus- Fa x
residues, harvest waste fractions and trias largest biogas plant. +43 (0)1 5812141-20
horse stable waste and the innovative
EMail
Services and products of fice@methapower.eu
planning and conceptualisation
Web
substrate management & repowering
www.methapower.eu
24/7 service and maintenance
Y e a r fo u n d e d
operation
2011

Biogas plant at Margarethen am Moos, Austria

MTU Onsite Energy GmbH

Experience the energy

MTU Onsite Energy GmbH

Dasinger Str. 11
86165 Augsburg
Germany

P H O NE

+49 (0)821 7480-0

A MTU 12V400 GS biogas CHP system with an output
of 400 kWel and 455 kW th
MTU Onsite Energy Gas Power Sys-
tems from Augsburg is one of the
leading manufacturers of gas-engine
Fa x
MTU Onsite Energy supplies connection-ready
+49 (0)821 7480-119
containers for the 400 and 4000 series
EMail
Onsite Energy has more than 35years info-oeg@mtu-online.com
experience in developing gas engine
systems and has already installed Web

www.mtuonsiteenergy.com
powered decentralised energy sys- 4,000systems around the world.
tems. The existing product portfolio Y EA R F O UN D E D

1977
covers everything from individual units An international network of sales and
for power generation (Genset), cogen- service offices guarantees optimum E M P L O Y EE S

eration compact modules and container support during all phases of your pro- 400

units to turnkey complete plants. The ject from the design stage to commis-
systems run on biogas, sewage, landfill sioning and service.
or natural gas with power outputs rang-
ing from 120 to 2,600kWel.

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
71 COMPANIE S
NETZSCH Pumpen & Systeme GmbH
For your media in biogas systems NEMO progressing cavity pumps and TORNADO rotary lobe pumps

Todays trend is the increasing use of TORNADO :

High performance
organic matter fermentation for the eco- rotary lobe pump
nomical production of energy. As a world
NETZSCH
Pumpen & Systeme GmbH
market leader in progressing ca v i
ty
Geretsrieder Strae 1 pumps and a specialist in biogas tech-
84478 Waldkraiburg nology, we offer matched mixing and
Germany conveying systems for all process stages in Japan and another 200 NETZSCH
P H O NE in the production of biogas. For many representatives we are close to wherever
+49 (0)8638 63-0 years, rotating positive displacement you are. Uniform standards in develop-
Fa x
pumps have been used as conveying ment and production based on DIN EN
+49 (0)8638 667981 systems for all kinds of substrate in this ISO 9001 at all sites ensure the highest
sector. Due to their inherent character- quality for which the name NETZSCH is
EMail

info.nps@netzsch.com istics, these pumps guarantee a reliable, a synonym.

safe and efficient process.
Web

www.netzsch.com
Our NEMO progressing cavity pumps,
Y EA R F O UN D E D
our TORNADO rotary lobe pumps as
1952
well as our NETZSCH grinding systems
S ALE S V O LU M E can mix, convey and crush material.
205 million
With more than 1,900 employees at five
E M P L O Y EE S development and production sites and
1,900 30 sales offices, a cooperation partner

NEMO B.Max : maximum homogenisation of substrates

FRITZPAULMICHLGMBH
High-quality components for biogas plants: homogenisation pumping separation

Fritz Paulmichl GmbH has been a sup-
plier of high-quality components for
biogas systems and plants for many
years. For new installation, plant expan-
FRITZ PAULMICHL GMBH
Kisslegger Strae 13 sion or operational improvement our
88299 Leutkirch customers have come to value our reli-
Germany able technology combined with long-
Phone
time expertise and our large variety of
+49 (0)7563 912 479 0 products. For this reason our custom-
ers include both plant manufacturers
FAX
high demand with its impressive mix-
ing power. It has been specially devel-
oped for secondary fermentation and
residue tanks with varying filling levels
and foil covered lagoons.
Visual control is one of the basic
requirements for safe plant operation.
For this application the PAULMICHL
Panorama Inspection Glasses have

+49 (0)7563 8012 and research facilities as well as plant been developed.
operators.
EMail

info@paulmichl-gmbh.de
PAULMICHL products are well known
Web
for being easy to handle and for their
www.paulmichl-gmbh.de
long service live. We experience a great
Y e a r fo u n d e d demand for our large propeller agitator
1907,
Mammut, which can be mounted as
since 1985 Fritz Paulmichl GmbH
a ceiling- or wall-mounted unit. The
Emp l oy e e s
Multimix agitator, newly added to our
50
product range, is also attracting very

High-quality components for biogas plants for homogenisation,

pumping and separation

companies 72 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 NORTH-TEC control desk: 24-hour supervision
Biogas plant in Neusitz, Germany
NORTH-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
In the last few years, NORTH-TEC
Maschinenbau GmbH has established
itself in the biogas sector beyond the bor-
ders of Germany with its plant construc-
tion, plant extension, plant optimisation
and 24/7 full service.
The company enlarged its already com-
prehensive portfolio to include a control
centre a very significant addition. This
is staffed around the clock by specialists
who offer a 24-hour plant monitoring ser-
vice, including analysis and, if needed,
the resolution of all incoming error
messages.
As part of the NT service agreements,
NORTH-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH not
only offers its comprehensive carefree
package, there are also four agreement
options (SELF, ECO, BASIC or COM-
PLETE) which provide a tailor-made
solution for any plant.
The same applies for the independent
biological consultancy service for your
biogas plants. A range of support pack-
ages or individual consultancy services
is offered for these according to cus-
tomer requirements.
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate & Advisor
Plant room and pump layout in a onemegawatt system
Setting new standards in all things service and innovation
By integrating biogas plants in the direct
marketing, NORTH-TEC Maschinenbau
GmbH sees itself as an interface between
plants and the direct marketer. This inte-
gration of the direct marketing module
in the NT Bogas Power pro plant software
enables participation in the energy bal-
ancing market and the associated poten-
NOR TH-TEC
tial funding through market premiums. Maschinenbau GmbH
Oldenhrn 1
In the procurement side of the energy 25821 Bredstedt
management sector, the NT Bogas Pow- Germany
erpro plant software offers the option of P H O NE
integrating energy generation systems +49 (0)4671 9279800
such as photovoltaics or CHP plants. Fa x
+49 (0)4671 92798-11
Naturally, new standards are also being EMail
set in terms of plant extension and opti- info@nor th-tec.de
misation. NORTH-TEC Maschinenbau
Web
GmbH produces innovative optimisation www.nor th-tec.de
concepts for plants of all manufacturers
Y EA R F O UN D E D
and offers Plug&Play products ready for
2004
operation.
S ALE S V O LU M E
11 million (Nor th-Tec group)
And in the unlikely event that your
service should fail, the companys rapid- E M P L O Y EE S
response, professional service team and 45
its comprehensive stock of spare parts of
a wide range of manufacturers is avail-
able 24/7.
development
73 COMPANIE S
KOBIT GmbH
The biogas and biomethane plant experts
KOBIT Prozessleitsystem
Biomethananlage Semd/Hessen
Since 2000, KOBIT GmbH has been
installing top-quality biogas and biom-
ethane plants tailor-made to meet the
needs of individual sites and for vari-
KOBIT GmbH
Jean-Monnet-Strae 12 ous substrates. With its comprehensive
54343 Fhren experience and over 140 national and
Germany international projects, the company is
P H O NE
one of the most established full-service
+49 (0)6502 93859-0 providers in the industry.
Fa x
+49 (0)6502 93859-29
Suitable for a wide range of substrates,
EMail
info@oekobit-biogas.com
economical and operator friendly
KOBIT devises technical concepts
Web
which take into account all input
www.oekobit-biogas.com
options while guaranteeing short con-
y e a r fo u n d e d
struction times, maximum availability
2000
and a high level of serviceability for all
e mp l oy e e s components used.
60
With its tailor-made, integrated sys-
tem solutions, KOBIT is a strong
and much sought-after partner among
farmers, energy providers and domes-
tic and international investors.
As part of a network, KOBIT cov-
ers the full spectrum from planning,
authorisation, plant construction, oper-
ation and service.
companies 74 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
Biomethane plants
KOBIT has been working with biom-
ethane since 2006. We have installed
numerous projects involving various
treatment processes and technologies.
With our experience, qualified special-
ists and professional project manage-
ment skills, we construct plants accord-
ing to customer requirements and to a
high industrial standard.
Process control system
The possible options for profession-
ally increasing biogas production as a
result of systematic interventions in the
biogas process are developing at a great
pace. With KOBITs own process con-
trol system (PCS), we actively support
biogas plant operators in optimising the
efficiency ratio and systematically lower-
ing the energy consumption of the plant.
Despite the complex requirements
placed on the automation and meas-
urement technology, the PCS is intui-
tive and easy to operate via the on-site
interface or remote access. Plant opera-
tion is also supported by the systems
intelligent smartcontrol module. This
is another innovation that KOBIT has
introduced to the sector.
& Advisor development
 OWS
Leading the way in the digestion of solid and semisolid organics for over 25 years

OWS (Organic Waste Systems) is a

world leading company in the construc-
tion and operation of anaerobic digestion
plants for solid and semisolid feedstocks.
OWS nv
OWS has 30 full-scale reference plants Street: Dok Noord 5
in about 15 different countries, treating 9000 Gent
source-separated and mixed household Belgium
waste, as well as pure organic substrates.
Phone

The experience and mechanical and +32 (0)9 2330204

biological know-how of OWS has DRANCO plants in Brecht (Belgium) constructed in
Fa x
1992 & 2000
resulted in the development of inno- +32 (0)9 2332825
vative and patented designs, with a EMail
digester concept adapted to each type OWS provides biogas consultancy and sup- mail@ows.be
of solid and semisolid feedstock: port to biogas plant operators, not only for
Web
digestion plants constructed by OWS, but www.ows.be
The DRANCO process: vertical also for digesters constructed by others:
Y e a r fo u n d e d
fermenters for the digestion of
1988
household waste organics one-stop shop for biological supervision,

The DRANCO-FARM process: vertical mechanical assistance and automation

fermenters for the digestion of pure supervision and improvement of the

organic feedstocks such as harvest digestion of household waste organics,

residues and industrial organic waste
The BES process: an anaerobic
process with horizontal fermenters
(plug-flow digestion) for the digestion
of pure organic substrates
The SORDISEP process: a wet
separation process for digested
municipal or residual waste coming
from the DRANCO process
energy crops, food waste, manure and
industrial organics
In addition, OWS also performs standard
testing and support analyses for obtain-
ing biodegradability and compostability
labels, and provides services for waste
management in the form of biological
DRANCO plant in Mnster (Germany)
treatment and recycling. for the a naerobic digestion
of residual waste

DRANCO plant for the anaerobic digestion of 50,000 t/y of biowaste in Hengelo (The Netherlands) DRANCO plant in Tenneville (Belgium) for the
anaerobic digestion of biowaste

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
75 COMPANIE S
 Pentair Haffmans biogas upgrading system with CO2 tank

Pentair Haffmans
Specialist in biogas upgrading and sustainable CO2 solutions

Pentair Haffmans, founded in 1947 and standard plug-and-play units to custom-

headquartered in Venlo, Netherlands,
is a global market leader in carbon diox-
ide (CO2) recovery and management
solutions. Our products and technolo-
gies are used in the brewing, soft drink,
wine, bioethanol and biogas industries
Pentair Haffmans
Marinus Dammeweg 30 to recover food-grade CO2 from fermen-
5928 PW Venlo tation processes.
Netherlands
P H O NE
Pentair Haffmans biogas upgrading
+31 (0)77 3232300 technology offers substantial advan-
tages compared to conventional sys-
Fa x
designed solutions. An experienced pro-
ject management team supervises each
project from order placement through to
the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT).
Our dedication to your system contin-
ues after the sale. Through compre-
hensive lifecycle management, Pentair
Haffmans ensures that the installa-
tion operates at optimal performance.
Regardless of where your plant is
located, our global network of service

+31 (0)77 3232323 tems. Biogas primarily consists of a engineers is ready to serve you. In addi-
mixture of methane (CH4) and CO2. tion, product specialists provide 24/7
EMail

info@haf fmans.nl
Pentair Haffmans biogas upgrading technical support by phone, email,
system recovers 100 percent of the Skype, or remote service.
Web
CH4, which eliminates the environmen-
www.haf fmans.nl
tally harmful methane slip that usu-
y e a r fo u n d e d ally occurs with other upgrading tech-
1947
niques, and results in a higher methane
E M P L O Y EE S yield. As an option, the CO2 by-product
30.000 Pentair PLC is recovered and can be sold for use in a
170 Pentair Haf fmans
variety of applications, including green-
house growing, providing the plant
operator with an additional source of
income.

Our biogas upgrading systems are based

on a combination of membrane and
cryogenic technology and range from

companies 76 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
Pro2 Anlagentechnik GmbH & SEVA Energie AG
The energy synergy

Operating under one holding company
for a few years now, SEVA and Pro2
exploit synergies on the national and
international CHP market. Both com-
panies can look back on 30years expe-
rience and more than 1,700 installed
CHP units. The large service network
of the two companies ensures fast and
The companies core areas of expertise
thus lie in developing and constructing
turnkey plants and systems for supply-
ing energy and exploiting biogas, sew-
Pro2 Anlagentechnik
age gas, natural gas, coal mine gas and GmbH
landfill gas. SEVA and Pro2 produce Schmelzerstrae 25
CHP plants at a production area total- 47877 Willich
ling 6,000m 2 with six production lines Germany

reliable maintenance services in Ger- in parallel. The plants comprise gas Phone

many and abroad. engines with electrical module outputs +49 (0)2154 488-0
of between 75 kW and 2,000 kW. The EMail
latest product is the self-developed info@pro2.com
400 kWel engine with more than 85%
total efficiency. In addition, the com-
pany develops and constructs system
SEVA Energie AG
solutions for gas utilisation, such as gas Europa-Allee 14
extraction, gas purification and flare 49685 Emstek
systems. Germany

Phone
+49 (0)4473 9281-0

EMail

info@seva.de

The SEVA compact module

PRONOVA Analysetechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Reliability and economic efficiency based on metrological analysis of the biogas process

SSM 6000: on-line biogas analysis (1)

FOS/TAC 2000: rapid substrate evaluation (2)

around the globe today, PRONOVA con-

PRONOVA
tinues to be a leader in biogas analysis. Analysetechnik
PRONOVA also provides solutions for GmbH & Co. KG
special and new applications, such as Groninger Strae 25
processing plants, for example. 13347 Berlin
Germany

PRONOVA also supplies gas warning P H O NE

technology and components for sub- +49 (0)30 455085-0

PRONOVA supplies the following key strate analysis (pH, ammonium, etc.). Fa x

products for controlling and optimising The automatic Titrator FOS/TAC 2000 +49 (0)30 455085-90
biogas plants: offers a simple means of monitoring EMail
SSM 6000 for online biogas analysis the core substrate parameters, FOS info@pronova.de
with additional long-term stability from and TAC, without any time delay to the Web
proCAL plants. www.pronova.de
FOS/TAC 2000 for evaluating the
Y EA R F O UN D E D
most important substrate parameters: PRONOVA is currently active in many 1998
concentration of the volatile organic gas analysis sectors. As a group of
E M P L O Y EE S
acids FOS and buffer capacity TAC companies, PRONOVA also supplies
25
iR AS water analysis technology and
From its first biogas analyser in 1998 to STELZNER agricultural measure-
the more than 3,000 systems deployed ment technology.

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
77 COMPANIE S
PURAC PUREGAS
Purac Puregas GmbH Your partners for biogas upgrading
Svsj Biogas Upgrading Plant
With more than ten years of experience,
Purac Puregas GmbH designs and con-
structs biogas upgrading plants using
Purac Puregas GmbH
Am Fallturm 5 the CApureTM process, which is based
28359 Bremen on chemical absorption. This type of
Germany biogas upgrading technology produces
Phone
high-quality green energy of natural gas
+49 (0)421 168 39-0 quality for injection into local gas grids
and further use as auto gas.
FAX

+49 (0)421 168 39-25

EMail

info@purac-puregas.de
The Purac Puregas CApureTM process is
characterised by:
low operating costs
Web

www.purac-puregas.de
methane losses < 0.1%

high yields with a methane purity

level > 99%

We offer:
shop-tested and CE certified biogas

upgrading plants
modular constructed plants in various

capacities
maintenance & service for high

system availability

SCHNELL Motoren AG
Maximum efficiency in gas combustion and pilot injection combined heat and power plants

SCHNELL Motoren AG manufactures

combined heat and power (CHP) plants
for the efficient generation of energy
SCHNELL Motoren AG
Hugo-Schrott-Strae 6 from biomass. Since it was founded in
88279 Amtzell 1992, the company has developed into
Germany a technological leader for gas combus-
Phone
tion and pilot injection combined heat
+49 (0)7520 9661-0 and power plants. With gas combustion
CHP plants with an electrical efficiency
FAX

+49 (0)7520 5388 ratio of 46.1%*, the company is setting

new standards with regard to increas- Installing the power unit
EMail

sales@schnellmotor.de
ing efficiency.
The power units, which have an electri-
Web 250-kW gas combustion cal output range of up to 550 kW, are
www.schnellmotor.de power unit with a 46.1%
degree of electrical efficiency
used in biogas plants. The product port-
Y e a r fo u n d e d folio also includes the conversion of nat-
1992
ural gas and sewage gas into electric-
ity. More than 3,500 SCHNELL CHP
plants have been installed in machine
houses or as total solutions in contain-
ers around the globe. More than 100in-
* in accordance with ISO EN house service engineers and numerous
3046-1, certified in DLG test in
2013 for the 250-kW agrogen certified service partners at home and
6R20.1BO power unit abroad guarantee high-speed service.

companies 78 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 seepex GmbH
The seepex bio substrate mixing system for fermentation product conveying

seepex GmbH, headquartered in Bot- The seepex bio substrate mixing sys-
trop, Germany, develops, manufac- tem is the ideal solution for thoroughly
tures and globally markets progres- mixing the solid and liquid fermenta-
sive cavity pumps for conveying low to tion products before feeding them into
seepex GmbH
highly viscous, aggressive and abra- the fermenter. It consists of a sturdy Scharnhlzstrae 344
sive media. feed hopper pump from product group 46240 Bottrop
T, a standard BN range pump and the Germany
seepex offers a wide range of solutions Biogas Control System BGDC for Phone
to match the specific requirements of short. +49 (0)2041 996-0
biogas plants.
FAX
seepex offers various designs of feed +49 (0)2041 996-400
The modular seepex system allows hopper pumps matched to the proper-
EMail
us to offer optimum technical and ties of the fermentation products being info@seepex.com
economic solutions for transporting conveyed.
fermentation products and conveying Web

www.seepex.com
almost all process-related products.
Y e a r fo u n d e d

1972

Emp l oy e e s

700

The seepex bio substrate mixing system with

Smart Conveying Technology (SCT)

SILOKING Mayer Maschinenbaugesellschaft mbH

Solids metering and mixing system for simply intelligent feeding

SILOKING Mayer Maschinenbaugesell

schaft mbH is a leading company in
the development and production of
feeding systems for biogas plants
Mayer Maschinen
and cattle feed. In modern manu- baugesellschaft mbH
facturing facilities, the feed proces- Kehlsteinstrae 4
sor and dosing systems are series 84529 Tittmoning
from 3 m to 80 m. Innovations are Germany

focused on safe and simple operation P H O NE

and on low energy consumption. All +49 (0)8683 8984-0

projects are individually planned and Complete solutions for solids metering systems up to Fa x
80 m incl. feeding augers
adapted to on-farm demands by experi- +49 (0)8683 8984-55

enced product specialists. EMail

SILOKING features and benefits: mayer@siloking.com

SILONOX steel: acid proof and wear Web

www.siloking.com
resistant
easy to install in just one day
Y EA R F O UN D E D

1983
low energy consumption
E M P L O Y EE S
flexible to a wide range of feed
340
easy to adapt to external control units

units from 3m to 80m capacity

Self-propelled vertical feed mixer SelfLine System

1000+ 3024-24 with high performance

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
79 COMPANIE S

The Multitec BioControl is one
system for stationary and mobile
measurements.
Hermann Sewerin GmbH
Leak detection technology
Since filing a patent application for the
first gas leak indicator in 1926, Hermann
Sewerin GmbH has become one of the
leading technology providers in the gas
Hermann Sewerin GmbH and water leak detection market. Its suc-
Rober t-Bosch-Strae 3 cess is not only due to this experience in
33334 Gtersloh developing measuring devices, which
Germany has spanned more than 80 years, but
P H O NE also to the knowledge acquired through
+49 (0)5241 934-0 use of the devices by its own surveying
Fa x teams.
+49 (0)5241 934-444
EMail
info@sewerin.com Specially developed for use in biogas
plants, the MultitecBioControl
Web
www.sewerin.com one system for stationary and mobile
measurements
Y EA R F O UN D E D
1923
All plant operators producing electric-
ity from biogas, sewer gas or landfill
gas aim to optimise processes and thus
ensure greater efficiency in other
words, to obtain as much methane as
possible. At the same time, however,
harmful components in the gas need to
be kept to a minimum.
Only constant monitoring of the gas
composition in a plant can indicate
changes before it is too late and thereby
companies 80 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
A large touch screen displays the stored and current
measurements.
The Multitec 540 for
monitoring shafts
prevent prolonged outages. If the power
generation is subsidised, the plant oper-
ator must regularly document the gas
composition and volume.
The Multitec BioControl can reliably
and sustainably handle these tasks.
The intelligent compensation of pres-
sure, temperature, moisture and gas
composition means that the compo-
nents can be analysed with precision.
The Multitec BioControl can also de-
termine the temperature and flow rate.
The Multitec BioControl is a com-
bined measuring device consisting of
the Multitec BioControl fixed installa-
tion and a mobile gas measuring device
the Multitec 540.
Depending on the version of Multi-
tec BioControl, the gas composi-
tion and volume can be automatically
measured and monitored at up to eight
measurement locations. The Multi-
tec 540 measures the values at the
individual measurement locations se-
quentially. The values are transferred
to the Multitec BioControl via an
interface. Individual measuring lo-
cations can also be set up for mobile
measurement if preferred.
& Advisor development

Since it was founded in 1998, SILOXA
Engineering AG has continued to
develop with its solid corporate policy
and the design of innovative systems
for the cleaning, drying and compres-
sion of gases. Today, the company is
one of Europes market leaders for com-
ponents for the treatment of biogas,
sewage gas and landfill gas.
One example is the PowerDryer, which
is now also available in the ECO Line
version with a new functional element.
Long-axis stirring shaft with two large, energy-efficient
blade propellers
streisal high-performance propeller
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
SILOXA Engineering AG
Biogas drying, cleaning and processing systems
The Siloxa PowerDryer ECO Line
Siloxa Engineering AG
Katernberger Strae 107
45327 Essen
Fitted with an additional cooling unit, Germany
it uses the ambient air to pre-cool the Phone
biogas. +49 (0)201 28951-0
Using a temperature-independent com-
fa x
pression cooling system together with +49 (0)201 28951-29
the additional cooling unit reduces
EMail
the energy costs associated with gas ver trieb@siloxa.com
processing.
web
www.siloxa.com
All of the products are designed and
produced exclusively at the companys Y EA R F O UN D E D
1998
headquarters in Essen, with assem-
bly, commissioning and after-sales E M P L O Y EE S
50
service completing the comprehensive
package. Be it customised plant con-
struction or universal standards for
gas cleaning and gas drying, SILOXA
offers extremly economic solutions.
streisal GmbH
Highly efficient mixing technologies from the stirring professionals
Founded in 1988 as a manufacturer of
submersible motors, streisal GmbH
develops, manufactures and globally streisal GmbH
markets innovative agitators and mixing Pettermandstrae 2
88239 Wangen im Allgu
systems for biogas plants, wastewater
Germany
technology and industrial applications:
submersible mixers from 1 to 18.5kW P H O NE
+49 (0)7522 707965-0
(medium- and slow-speed, with
propeller diameters of up to 2.8m) Fa x
rod agitators +49 (0)7522 80450
long-axis agitators EMail
vertical agitators info@streisal.de
Web
Based on our many years of experience www.streisal.de
and our knowledge gained from numer- y e a r fo u n d e d
ous mixing experiments in our own fluid 1988
mechanics laboratory, we can always
Emp l oy e e s
select the right product for each particu- 20
lar application from this wide range of
options.
Our services include expert advice, mod-
ernisation/repowering of your plants,
professional servicing and maintenance,
spare parts supply and repair.
& Advisor development
81 COMPANIE S
SUMA Rhrtechnik GmbH
Mixing must be effective, efficient and sustainable

Through innovation based on our exten-
sive experience, SUMA finds solutions
for complex mixing challenges. We
develop and optimise our products for
SUMA Rhrtechnik GmbH
Mar tinszeller Strae 21 our customers benefit.
87477 Sulzberg
Germany We continue to work on new develop-
Phone
ments and improved processes. SUMA
+49 (0)8376-92131-0 propellers are extensively tested in our
own test basin for efficiency, effective-
FAX
combines all the knowledge gained
from making agitators for biogas plants
over the last 20+ years. For example,
the Giantmix FT design allows direc-
tion changes of up to 30 in all direc-
tions and can be installed up to 8 m
below substrate level.
The SUMA Optimix 2G is our submers-
ible mixer for the best results. With low

+49 (0)8376-92131-19 ness and performance. The SUMA power consumption and a high thrust
HD+ propeller design, which is over and circulation rate, it is one of the most
EMail
20% more efficient than previous cost effective and reliable submersible
info@suma.de
designs, resulted from such work. Our mixers for effective mixing.
Web
recent design, the Giantmix FT series,
www.suma.de

Y e a r fo u n d e d

1957

Emp l oy e e s

70

Giantmix FT

Tietjen Verfahrenstechnik GmbH

IMPRASYN substrate disintegration/Food waste seperation DRM

Unlocking the potential of food waste,

DRM hybrid simultaneously grinds bio-
degradable wastes and separates up to
98% of packaging material. The modu-
Tietjen Verfahrens
technik GmbH lar system is built for facilities process-
Vor der Horst 6 ing 10m3/h or more. Benefit from our
25485 Hemdingen solutions covering your entire biomass
Germany reception and conditioning process or
Phone use DRM with existing systems.
+49 (0)4106 6333-0

FAX
Tradition and innovation
+49 (0)4106 81444 Since 1959, Tietjen has delivered
EMail IMPRASYN biomass disintegration: proven and machinery and equipment for more
info@tietjen-original.com tested in practice since 2011 than 2,000 biomass conditioning pro-
jects worldwide: from hammer mills
Web

www.tietjen-original.com
The patented IMPRASYN system for feed and wood pellets to substrate
stands for a 10 to 15% increase in biogas disintegration for ethanol and biogas.
Y e a r fo u n d e d
yields, flexible biomass options includ- We provide mechanical as well as plant
1959
ing grass and manure, efficient use of engineering. Our services include plan-
Emp l oy e e s
digester volume. Biomass is broken ning and project management as well as
40
down in a wet grinder while a biological technical and biological support.
additive is mixed in. Methane produc-
tion is increased and accelerated.

companies 82 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development

Thni TTV paddle agitator
THNI INDUSTRIEBETRIEBE GMBH
Robust design and operational efficiency ensure maximum availability
THNI Industriebetriebe GmbH is
an Austrian-based provider of biogas
plants for treating organic waste and
agricultural by-products. With a track
record of more than 20 years, Thni
provides highly efficient plant solutions
offering an excellent price-performance
ratio. These systems are planned and
designed by Thnis own engineering
division and the key plant components
are manufactured at the in-house metal-
working facility. THNI currently has
more than 70biogas plants in operation
throughout Austria, Italy, Germany,
Great Britain and Bulgaria.
Put waste in, draw energy out
Thni T TV is a dry fermentation pro-
cess that is particularly well-suited for
organic waste because it has a higher
tolerance against impurities than other
processes. The heart of the Thni
T TV process is the plug-flow digester
equipped with a slow rotating paddle
agitator, ensuring the optimum mix-
ing of the substrate and thus a high
biogas yield. The Thni paddle agitator
ensures highly efficient stirring as well
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate & Advisor
Thni NATURGAS plant in Suffolk (England)
Thni TTV plant in Augsburg (Germany)
as optimum prevention of swim layers
and sediments. Dewatering of the fer-
mentation residues is effected by Thni
screw presses, which are characterised
THNI INDUSTRIEBETRIEBE
by efficient energy consumption and GMBH
durability. Obermarkt 48
6410 Telfs
Turnkey systems for the agricultural Austria
sector P H O NE
Thni NATURGAS technology is based +43 (0)5262 6903-0
on the wet digester, which is continu- Fa x
ously filled with liquid and solid input +43 (0)5262 6903-8503
material via a special feed hopper sys- EMail
tem. The patented Thni paddle agita- umwelt@thoeni.com
tor creates the conditions for stirring
Web
input mixtures with high dry matter www. thoeni.com
content so efficiently that no floating
Y EA R F O UN D E D
layers arise, while at the same time
1964
ensuring high gas yields.
E M P L O Y EE S
480
Outstanding features of Thni biogas
plants:
high system and input flexibility,
robust and durable plant technology
operational efficiency, low operating
costs and maximum availability
high biogas yields due to efficient
stirring technology
development
83 COMPANIE S
A TV NORD specialist audits a biogas plant.
TV NORD GROUP
Profitable, legally compliant and safe biogas plants with the comprehensive services of the TV NORD GROUP
The economic efficiency of biogas
plants, biogas treatment and feed-in
plants depends heavily on optimising
the planning, licensing and construc-
tion processes. Another equally impor-
TV NORD GROUP
Groe Bahnstrae 31 tant factor is how safe and reliable their
22525 Hamburg operation is.
Germany
P H O NE
With these requirements in mind, TV
+49 (0)40 8557-2123 NORD has compiled a comprehensive
range of services. Our industry special-
Fa x
+49 (0)40 8557-19015719 ists will assist your projects with all the
necessary approvals, accreditations
EMail
biogas@tuev-nord.de
and a great deal of experience during
the planning phase and the overall
Web
operating period.
www.tuev-nord.de/biogas
Y EA R F O UN D E D Environmental reports and certifi-
1869
cation: We provide certified environ-
S ALE S V O LU M E mental auditors for the classification
1,056 million and determination of eligibility for pay-
E M P L O Y EE S ments under the German Renewable
>10,000 Energy Law (EEG). Our auditors issue
proof of origin certificates and conduct
plant audits and certification based on
various standards (e.g. ISCC, REDcert,
Medium-Voltage Directive, etc.).
Location and emissions: Our tech-
nical specialists will evaluate the site
suitability. As part of the licensing pro-
companies 84 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate
cedure, we produce odour and noise
forecasts, examine the environmental
impact and support you during the appli-
cation process. We perform emission
measurements (including formalde-
hyde measurements, amongst others)
during the operational phase. We use a
gas detection camera to check the leak-
tightness of gas-bearing components.
We help you to implement the conditions
set out in the notice of approval.
Safety and environmental protec-
tion: We carry out audits according to
the Industrial Safety Act, laws pertain-
ing to water and waterways, pollution
control and major accidents, and the
regulations of the DVGW (German
Association for Gas and Water). We also
provide comprehensive support with
the compilation of explosion protec-
tion documentation, risk assessments
and major accident response plans.
We compile technical reports, e.g. for
scheduled repowering activities.
Training and further education: Our
academy will train your employees on
occupational health and safety, tech-
nological safety, environmental protec-
tion and many other topics.
& Advisor development

UgnCleanPellets are more effective than active carbon for desulphurisation and cleaning of exhaust gas
Removing pollutants and contaminants
from biogenic fuel gases is the first key
step in optimising output and returns on
biogas plants.
As part of our range of sustainable prod-
ucts, we offer UgnCleanPellets S 3.5
and UGN -BEKOM systems specifically
for the useful conversion of the hydrogen
sulphide contained in biogenic fuel gases
into elemental sulphur. The sulphur-
enriched pellets make an excellent soil
conditioner for spreading on your land.
WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH
WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH was
founded in 2001 and with over
300plants installed in 25countries, it
has been a biogas plant manufacturer
from the very start. The strength of
the medium-sized company is its indi-
vidual solutions from compact plants
to computer-controlled, megawatt-
scale plants, from waste recycling
plants to biomethane refineries.
full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Substrate & Advisor
UGN-Umwelttechnik GmbH
UGN-BEKOM H plant
THE BENEFITS TO YOU:
recovery of sulphur as a valuable raw
material for your land
UGN-Umwelttechnik GmbH
utilisation of the energy of warm and
Gewerbepark Keplerstrae 20
wet gases 07549 Gera
savings in gas cooling energy Germany
no disposal costs
Phone
potential for desulphurisation without +49 (0)365-8305898
additional oxygen injection
fa x
+49 (0)365-7106931
The versatile UgnCleanPellets are also
EMail
effective in resolving problematic odours info@ugn-umwelttechnik.de
and emissions. Using the UGN -BEGA
system in combination with hybrid web
www.ugn-umwelttechnik.de
filter modules based on UgnCleanPel-
lets, odorous organic or inorganic com- Y EA R F O UN D E D
2002
pounds can be avoided.
Stainless steel biogas plants with global demand
This flexibility has also come about as a
result of the materials used: WELTEC
constructs digesters from corrosion-
resistant stainless steel. This not only
WELTEC BIOPOWERGmbH
ensures the plant has a long service life, Zum Langenberg 2
it also guarantees a consistently high 49377 Vechta
standard around the world. An addi- Germany
tional benefit is the short time it takes P H O NE
to construct the stainless steel tank. +49 (0)4441 99978-0
Fa x
Once the plant is complete, experienced +49 (0)4441 99978-8
service engineers, CHP plant special-
EMail
ists and the companys own biological info@weltec-biopower.de
laboratory are available as professional
partners at the operators side to ensure Web
www.weltec-biopower.de
the plants efficient operation.
y e a r fo u n d e d
2001
Emp l oy e e s
80
The biogas park in Knnern, Germany one of the
worlds largest biomethane plants
development
85 COMPANIE S
UTS Mixer UTS Separator
Biogas plant Dagenham/London, UK (1.5 MWel & 1.6 MW th, food waste)
UTS Biogastechnik GmbH
Reliable biogas technology. This statement reflects over 20 years of experience and equipment supplied to
more than 1,600 biogas plants.
Founded on innovative products, UTS
a member of the Anaergia group
has become one of the leaders in the
UTS Biogastechnik GmbH biogas industry over the last 20years.
Zeppelinstrae 8 UTSs high quality and highly reliable
85399 Hallbergmoos solutions are guaranteed by numerous
Germany internationally patented products and
P H O NE processes.
+49 (0)811 99884-0
Fa x In 1992, UTS started delivering robust
+49 (0)811 99884-450 equipment for liquid manure treat-
EMail
ment (pumps and mixers) in close
info@uts-biogas.com cooperation with farmers. During the
years that followed, UTS designed and
Web
www.uts-biogas.com supplied standardised compact biogas
plants in a range of different installed
Y EA R F O UN D E D
electrical capacities. In addition, UTS
1992 as U.T.S. Umwelt-Technik-Sd GmbH
2007 UTS Biogastechnik GmbH
since
has constantly strengthened its com-
petence in the conversion of organic
Emp l oy e e s
waste into energy using substrates
approx.100
such as dry poultry faeces, slurry,
food waste, slaughterhouse waste and
sugar beet pulp.
To operate a biogas plant efficiently
and treat the associated substrates
flows (e.g. viscous sludges with high
organic load) effectively, UTS has
companies 86 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &
Patented UTS Service-Box
Biogas plant Jinan, China (350 Nm3 /h, biomethane to fuel, food waste)
developed a specific product series
made in Germany. Rugged submers-
ible pumps and hydraulic/electric
mixers have formed part of the UTS
product range for some time.
Serviceability, safety and environmen-
tal protection are combined perfectly
in UTSs patented Service-Box for
mixer maintenance, while the UTS
separator demonstrates superior per-
formance in liquid/solid separation.
Whether you want to establish a new
biogas plant or expand, adapt or re-
furbish an existing one, whether the
plant is small or large (several MWs),
farm-based, industrial or municipal:
The knowledge and experience of
UTS Biogastechnik GmbH will ensure
that you benefit from high-level ser-
vices and products. From a detailed
feasibility study and concept design
to commissioning your biogas plant,
UTS applies mature and reliable solu-
tions that are state-of-the-art. UTSs
experts also assist you as technical
and biological consultants with the
operation of your biogas plant around
the clock.
Substrate & Advisor development
 Wolf System GmbH
Your competent partner for the construction of reinforced concrete tanks of any kind

Wolf System GmbH

Am Stadtwald 20
94486 Osterhofen
Germany

Phone

+49 (0)9932 37-0

Mantled reinforced concrete tanks (digester) Industrial biogas plant for feed-in into the natural
gas grid fa x

+49 (0)9932 2893

WOLF SYSTEM has gained a name for
itself as one of the leading operations
in Europe in the field of storage tank
construction.
by the special, technically well-engi-
EMail
neered WOLF SYSTEM metal shutter- mail@wolfsystem.de
ing without wall bushing tie bolts and
distance tubes. This guarantees the web

www.wolfsystem.de
highest level of leakproofness.
The WOLF SYSTEM storage container Y EA R F O UN D E D

1966
construction programme ranges from No matter what it is: Round reinforced
chip silos to large-capacity storage tanks concrete storage tanks as well as indi- E M P L O Y EE S

for industry, from slurry or water res-
ervoirs and biogas plants to large sew-
age plants. Storage tank diameters and
heights of up to 50m are made possible
>3,000 ( in Europe)
vidual prefabricated houses and con-
structions for agriculture, industry and
the commercial sector. With WOLF
SYSTEM you have got the right partner.

Wulf Johannsen KG GmbH & Co.

Your Success Our Motivation

Wulf Johannsen KG GmbH & Co. offers
an extensive range of services for biogas
engines, from fault resolution and
maintenance/inspection to repairs and
spare parts provision. Its experienced
electrical team also advises on engine
management and power unit control,
and provides support with remote data
transmission. Specially trained service
located in Kiel. Their over 80 years of
experience speak for themselves, with
DIN EN ISO 9001, 14001, 50001, SCC**,
the RAL quality mark and Sicher mit
System quality seal certificates gen-
Wulf Johannsen KG
erating confidence and guaranteeing GmbH & Co.
good-quality work. The national subsidi- Marie-Curie-Strae 19
aries and support centres of the entire 24145 Kiel
STORM Group ensure flexibility and Germany

employees provide individual, compre- speed. As one of the largest engine spe- P H O NE

hensive support on site. cialists in Europe not tied to any specific +49 (0)431 58795-0
The companys engine experts are manufacturer, it offers a 24/7 service. Fa x

+49 (0)431 58795-43

The WULF JOHANNSEN Full Service EMail
for your biogas engine includes: info@wulf-johannsen.de
fault resolution
Web
maintenance/inspection
www.wulf-johannsen.de
ECOS minor and major inspections
y e a r fo u n d e d
ECOS exchange parts such as cylinder
1932
heads, and oil and water pumps, etc.
Emp l oy e e s

50
Service line
+49 800 BIOGAS 112
Plant I in Kiel-Wellsee +49 800 246427 112

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
87 COMPANIE S
Viessmann Group
Viessmann Werke A single source of biogas expertise

The Viessmann Group is an internation- international company. 55% of the com-

ally leading manufacturer of heating panys turnover is generated abroad.
technology systems. The family-run
company, which was founded in 1917, With Schmack Biogas, one of the lead-
Viessmann Werke
GmbH & Co. KG employs around 11,400people and has ing providers of biogas plants based on
Viessmannstrae 1 a group turnover of 2.1billion euros. the wet anaerobic digestion principle,
35108 Allendor f (Eder) the biogas processing pioneer Schmack
Germany With 27 production companies in Carbotech and the BIOFerm brand pro-
Phone 11 countries, sales companies and rep- viding technological expertise in the
+49 (0)6452 70 0 resentative offices in 74 countries, as field of dry anaerobic digestion, Viess-
Fa x
well as 120sales subsidiaries worldwide, mann has the entire biogas technology
+49 (0)6452 70 2780 Viessmann is an actively expanding sector covered.
EMail

info@viessmann.com Biogas Energy crops Slurry or manure Biowaste Detached houses

Comprehensive Range
Web Biogas plant
1 Vitomax 200-LW
www.viessmann.com 2 CHP Vitobloc School
3 Buffer storage for heating water
CHP/local boiler CHP/local boiler
District heating
Y e a r fo u n d e d
network
1917 Direct injection to the gas grid Heating system
Housing estate

S ALE S V O LU M E
Gas upgrading Energiepflanzen
2.1 billion from biogas
to biomethane
1 2 3
Balancing
Feed-in of
Emp l oy e e s 100 % green energy
Injection Biomethane take-off
11,400
The complete biogas service from Viessmann: everything from a single source

Schmack Biogas A full-service provider of biogas plants

Schmack Biogas is one of the leading spans the entire biogas value-added
providers of biogas plants. The company chain. In addition to providing techni-
has been setting standards with highly cal support, the company also offers a
efficient and profitable biogas plants comprehensive microbiological service.
since 1995. Its product portfolio covers Schmack has received many awards
plant systems with outputs ranging from for its innovative technologies and
Schmack Biogas GmbH
(Viessmann Group) 50-kWel compact plants up to 20-MWGas processes.
Bayernwerk 8 gas feed-in plants. Schmack is also active on an interna-
92421 Schwandor f With system solutions for wet and dry tional level. With Schmack Biogas Srl in
Germany anaerobic digestion, Schmack Biogas Bolzano and BIOFerm Energy Systems
Phone covers the full spectrum of fermenta- in Madison/Wisconsin, the company
+49 (0)9431 751-0 tion technologies. The range of services has subsidiaries in Italy and the USA.
FAX

+49 (0)9431 751-204

EMail

info@schmack-biogas.com

Web

www.schmack-biogas.com

Y e a r fo u n d e d

1995

Biogas plant in Tongeren, Belgium Agricultural biogas plant in Fischbach, Germany

companies 88 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
 BIOFerm Technological expertise in the field of dry anaerobic digestion

BIOFerm GmbH
(Viessmann Group)
c/o Schmack Biogas GmbH
Bayernwerk 8
92421 Schwandor f
Germany

First dry AD plant in the Americas: University of Oshkosh, USA Filling of a digester Phone

+49 (0)9431 751-0

The BIOFerm brand provides dry The dry anaerobic digestion technol- Fa x

anaerobic digestion solutions. These ogy is already globally well established. +49 (0)9431 751-204
innovative processes reclaim the All plants can be expanded in a modu- EMail
energy from non-pumpable biogenic lar manner and comply with the most info@schmack-biogas.com
waste (e.g. municipal biological waste stringent requirements in terms of Web
and residues from agriculture and land- operational safety. www.bioferm-energy.com
scape management work). The require-
ments placed on the raw materials are
minimal; there is no need to pretreat
the biomass.

Schmack Carbotech Biogas upgrading pioneer

Schmack Carbotech, a company of of the PSA, providing a highly efficient

the Viessmann Group, is one of the process and the lowest utilities con-
pioneers and market leaders in biogas sumption of its kind. Schmack Carbo-
purification with more than 30years of tech specialises in biogas and landfill
experience in the development, engi- gas upgrading plants to produce bio
neering and manufacture of turnkey methane for grid injection and CNG
Schmack Carbotech
gas upgrading plants. The in-house vehicle fuel. GmbH (Viessmann Group)
technology is based on the pressure Natorpstrae 27
swing adsorption (PSA) process. The 45139 Essen
company combines the know-how of Germany

almost 70 industrial plants installed in Phone

Europe with continuous development +49 (0)201 50709-300

FAX

+49 (0)201 50709-500

EMail

mail@carbotech.info

Web

www.carbotech.info

Y e a r fo u n d e d

1989

Biogas upgrading plant, Aiterhofen, 2,000 Nm3 /h Interior view of a biogas upgrading container module

full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
89 COMPANIE S
 Flygt Mixer SR 4600

Flygt Mixer Banana 4430 Flygt Submersible Pump F 3153 Flygt Midsize Mixer 4460

XYLEM WATER SOLUTIONS

Xylem develops high-quality submersible pumps and agitators for the efficient mixing and clog-free
pumping of substrates

Only efficient mixing of the substrate
will guarantee perfect mixing results.
This is achieved by creating a strong,
highly efficient flow throughout the
entire pit. The strength of the flow is
dependent on the thrust. The costs of
XYLEM WATER
SOLUTIONS AB
the power consumption required to
Gesllvgen 33 generate this thrust are determined by
Sundbyberg, Stockholm 174 87 hydraulic efficiency, rotational speed
Sweden and propeller diameter.
P H O NE
+46 (0)8 475600 The Flygt Banana agitator is a sub-
Fa x
mersible mixer with an extremely
+46 (0)8 4756900 large propeller diameter measuring
2.5 m. With a low rotational speed
EMail
that allows their height and direction to
be adjusted. These mixers are available
with rated outputs of between 2.5 and
25kW and with propeller diameters of
between 368 and 766mm.
The Mid-size Mixer 4460 is equipped
with a 1.3 m propeller and runs at
6080 rpm. With its high thrust per
kW it provides very good homogenisa-
tion. The mixers are ready for flexible
installation.
Chopper pumps in the F 3000 prod-
uct series are well-suited to pump-

info.de@xyleminc.com (30 to 50 revolutions per minute) and ing substrates which have a high dry
a large propeller diameter, it gener- substance content. The rotary cutters
Web
ates more thrust per kilowatt and is have hardened edges which, working
www.xyleminc.com
more effective than compact mixers. in combination with the cutting plate,
Y e a r fo u n d e d
The propeller blades are made from effortlessly chop fibrous materials. F
since 1956 manufacturer of Flygt pumps

since 2011 operating under the company

glass-fibred reinforced polyurethane,
name of Xylem Water Solutions and the agitator is guided on a square
pipe. Banana agitators are installed at a
S ALE S V O LU M E
US$ 3.8 billion
fixed height. The compact 4600 series
mixers ensure the prevention of float-
Emp l oy e e s
ing layers and sedimentation thorough
12,500
mixing, and are installed in a manner
pumps have a wide output range (with a
volumetric flow rate of up to nine cubic
meters per minute and a pumping head
of up to 70 m of water column). They
are specifically designed for pumping
liquid manure with long fibre content
and fermentation residue.

companies 90 full-Service providercomponents & operator, Pl annerResearch &

Substrate & Advisor development
Foto: Alekss/Fotolia
 German Biogas Association
Europes most powerful organisation in the field

Structure of the
German Biogas Association

35 employees
Committee At the headquarters,
in the capital and in
Seven members
five regional offices
elected for
a term of office
lasting
Board of
four years
Trustees
Speakers of regional
groups, working groups
and advisory bodies,
representatives of
other associations

> 4,800 members

Organised into 23 regional groups,
represented by regional group speakers:
operators of biogas plants / companies &
manufacturers scientific institutions / lawyers / banks
interested private individuals etc.

The German Biogas Associations permanent The German Biogas Association annual conference:
employees plenary sessions, workshops and a specialist trade fair

The German Biogas Association unites events. 2015 will see The Biogas
operators, manufacturers and plan- 24th International Annual Conference
ners of biogas plants, representatives and Exhibition. With more than 7,000
from science and research and all those visitors, it has become the most impor-
interested in the industry. Since its tant meeting place for biogas industry
German Biogas
Association establishment in 1992, the association, stakeholders from Germany and across
(Fachverband Biogas e.V.) which has more than 4,800 members, the globe.
Headquar ters has become Europes most powerful
Angerbrunnenstrae 12 organisation in the field of biogas. In As a consequence of both participa-
85356 Freising
addition to its headquarters in Freising, tion in EU projects and membership
Germany
it has an office in the capital, Berlin, as of the European Biogas Association
P H O NE
well as five regional offices throughout (EBA), the German Biogas Association
+49 (0)8161 9846-60
Germany. The German Biogas Associa- actively promotes and instigates inter-
Fa x tion currently employs a total of 35 per- national experience exchange.
+49 (0)8161 9846-70 manent members of staff.
EMail The German Biogas Association is
info@biogas.org represented by a seven-member com-
Web Areas of responsibility mittee elected by the general meeting
www.biogas.org The German Biogas Association cam- of members. The associations 4,800
paigns for the increased use of biogas members nationwide are organised
technology through political lobbying into 23 regional groups, which guaran-
Berlin
Hannover
at EU, national and state level. tees that effective contact networks are
Dsseldorf
Erfurt established at regional, national and
Furthermore, it encourages the international level.
Burglengenfeld
exchange of biogas-related information
Brunlingen
Freising
and knowledge, for instance through
German Biogas Association: collecting, evaluating and spreading
headquarters in Freising, office in the knowledge of scientific findings and
capital Berlin, and five regional offices
in Brunlingen, Burglengenfeld, Ds- practical experience, or by means of
seldorf, Erfurt and Hanover conferences, exhibitions and other

companies 92
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93 P U B LI S HER S
Foto: chulja/Fotolia
 Trade Fairs and Events
An Overview for January 2015November 2016*

Date Trade Fair/Event Web Location

Jan. 1314, 2015 Biogas Infotage 2015 www.renergie-allgaeu.de/index.php/ Buchloe (Germany)
veranstaltungen/biogas-infotage
Jan. 1625, 2015 nature.tec / Internationale Grne naturetec-igw.de / Berlin (Germany)
Woche 2015 www.gruenewoche.de
Jan. 1920, 2015 12. BBE/UFOP-Fachkongress www.kraftstoffe-der-zukunft.com Berlin (Germany)
Kraftstoffe der Zukunft 2014
Jan. 2122, 2015 Lignofuels 2015 www.wplgroup.com/aci/conferences/ Madrid (Spain)
eu-eef6.asp
Jan. 2729, 2015 24. Jahrestagung des Fachverband www.biogastagung.org Bremen (Germany)
Biogas e. V. mit BIOGAS-Fachmesse
Jan. 2728, 2015 5. Mitteleuropische www.biomasseverband.at tba
Biomassekonferenz 2015
Feb. 1012, 2015 E-world energy & water 2015 www.e-world-essen.com/de/aktuelles Essen (Germany)
Feb. 2527, 2015 World Sustainable Energy Days www.wsed.at/en/registration-info Wels (Austria)
Feb. 2527, 2015 BioEnergy Italy http://www.bioenergyitaly.com/en Cremona (Italy)
2015 tba Iran International Renewable www.energysaving.ir/English Tehran (Iran)
(Feb. 26March 1, Energy& Energy Saving Exhibition
2014) Tehran
March 911, 2015 IRES-Symposium www.eurosolar.de/de/index.php/ Dsseldorf (Germany)
ires-konferenzreihe/ires-2015
March 1113, SEE Exhibitions and Eco Forum viaexpo.com/en/pages/ Sofia (Bulgaria)
2015 on Green Energy & Waste ee-re-exhibition
Management15
March 1922, 2015 New Energy Husum www.new-energy.de Husum (Germany)
March 2021, Zukunftsenergien Nordwest Job- & www.zukunftsenergien-nordwest.de Bremen (Germany)
2015 Bildungsmesse
March 2628, 2015 Klimaenergy 2015 www.fierabolzano.it/klimaenergy/de Bolzano (Italy)
April 2326, 2015 agra die Landwirtschaftsausstellung www.agra2015.de Leipzig (Germany)
in Mitteldeutschland
May 46, 2015 AEBIOM European Bioenergy www.aebiom.org/conference Brussels (Belgium)
Conference 2015
May 68, 2015 ICCI www.icci.com.tr Istanbul (Turkey)
May 1417, 2015 25. BraLa (Brandenburgische www.brala.eu/index.php Paaren im Glien
Landwirtschaftsausstellung) (Germany)
May 3June 30, IFAT resources.innovations.solutions. www.ifat.de Munich (Germany)
2016
June 14, 2015 31th International Fuel Ethanol www.fuelethanolworkshop.com/ema/ Minneapolis (USA)
Workshop & Expo DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=Home
June 14, 2015 23nd EU BC&E 2015 (European www.conference-biomass.com/ Vienna (Austria)
Biomass Conference and Exhibition) Conference.405.0.html
2015 tba AGRO www.agroexpo.de Kiev (Ukraine)
(June 47, 2014)
June 23, 2015 8. Biogas Innovationskongress www.biogas-innovationskongress.de Osnabrck (Germany)
June 911, 2015 Renewable Energy World Confer- www.renewableenergyworld-europe. Amsterdam (Netherlands)
ence& Expo Europe com
June 911, 2015 POWER-GEN Europe www.powergeneurope.com/index.html Amsterdam (Netherlands)

95 T r a d e fa i r s a n d e v e n t s
 Date Trade Fair/Event Web Location
June 1416, 2016 DLG Feldtage www.dlg-feldtage.de/index.html Gut Mariaburghausen,
Hafurt (Germany)
June 2225, 2015 A&WMAs 108th Annual ace2015.awma.org/ Raleigh (USA)
Conference& Exhibition
July 1013, 2015 67. Tarmstedter Ausstellung www.tarmstedter-ausstellung.de/ Tarmstedt (Germany)
Aug./Sep. 271, Eco Style http://www.vcb.cz/en/ Ceske Budejovice (Czech
2015 calendar/296-eco-style Republic)
Sep. 46, 2015 Forst Live Nord 2015 www.forst-live.de/nord/index.htm Soltau (Germany)
Sep. 79, 2015 SOLTEC Energie. Umwelt. Zukunft http://www.soltec.de Hameln (Germany)
Sep. 1013, 2015 MELA www.mela-messe.de Mhlengeez (Germany)
2015 tba Progress in Biogas III http://www.progress-in-biogas.com Stuttgart (Germany)
(Sep. 1011, 2014)
Sep. 1617, 2015 VKU-Stadtwerkekongress 2015 www.innovation-congress.de/Veran- Osnabrck (Germany)
staltungen/Veranstaltungsuebersicht/
VKU-Stadtwerkekongress-2015/
Stadtwerke-Motor-fuer-Wettbewerb-
und-Innovation.html
2015 tba 11. Internationales Symposium www.narotech.de Erfurt (Germany)
(Sep. 1617, 2014) Werkstoffe aus Nachwachsenden
Rohstoffen
Sep. 1619, 2015 Electric Power & Renewables Energy www.tradefairdates.com/Electric- Jakarta (Indonesia)
Indonesia Jakarta Power-Renewable-Energy-Indonesia-
M7482/Jakarta.html
Sep. 2728, 2015 GAT Gasfachliche www.gat-dvgw.de Essen (Germany)
Aussprachetagung
Oct. 14, 2015 RENEXPO 2015 www.renexpo.de Augsburg (Germany)
Oct. 69, 2015 BioPol 2015 (5th International www.biopol-conf.org Donostia San Sebastian
onference on Biodegradable Poly-
C (Spain)
mers and Sustainable Composites)
Oct. 1316, 2015 Pollutec www.pollutec.com Paris (France)
Oct. 1417, 2015 EEE-Expo Bukarest www.eee-expo.ro/home Bucharest (Romania)
2015 tba (Oct. Biogas Science Wien http://biogas2014.boku.ac.at/#!/top Vienna (Austria)
2630, 2014)
2015 tba DepoTech www.depotech.at/ Leoben (AT)
(Nov. 47, 2014)
Nov. 814, 2015 AGRITECHNICA www.agritechnica.com Hanover (Germany)
2015 tba 100% Erneuerbare Energien http://www.100-ee-kongress.de/ Kassel (Germany)
(Nov. 1112, 2014) Kongress
Nov. 2526, 2015 biogas expo & congress www.biogas-offenburg.de/ Offenburg (Germany)
2016 tba Jahrestagung des Fachverband http://www.biogastagung.org/de/ tba (Germany)
(Jan. 2729, 2015) Biogas e.v. mit Biogas-Fachmesse
Sep. 59, 2016 IUAPPA World Clean Air Congress www.iuappa.com Busan (Korea)
Nov. 1518, 2016 Energy Decentral http://www.energy-decentral.com Hanover (Germany)
Nov. 1518, 2016 Eurotier http://www.eurotier.com/home-en.html Hanover (Germany)
2016 tba biogas expo & congress www.biogas-offenburg.de Offenburg (Germany)
(Nov. 2526, 2015)
*Last updated: November 2014; subject to changes. Sunbeam cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the
information. Please check this against the information on the websites listed.

T r a d e fa i r s a n d e v e n t s 96
 Published by
Important notice Sunbeam GmbH
This brochure, all parts thereof and the website are The texts and illustrations in this brochure were pro- Zinnowitzer Strae 1
protected by copyright. The reproduction, altera- duced with the greatest possible care and to the 10115 Berlin
tion and any other type of use of the brochure or best of the authors knowledge. As errors cannot be Germany
parts thereof except for purely private purposes ruled out and both texts and illustrations are subject Phone
is prohibited except with the prior approval of to change, we draw your attention to the following: +49 (0)30 726 296-300
Sunbeam GmbH. This shall apply in particular to Sunbeam GmbH gives no guarantee with regard to Telefax
reproduction/copies, translations, microfilming and the timeliness, accuracy, completeness or quality of +49 (0)30 726 296-309
storage in electronic systems. the information provided in this brochure. Sunbeam
www.sunbeam-communications.com
GmbH accepts no liability for damages, material or
The citing of text by media representatives and non-material, which are incurred through the use
Responsible under the
political decision-makers is expressly desired and or non-use of the information provided or which are German Press Act
does not require prior approval, provided that the caused directly or indirectly by the use of erroneous Dr Roland Ernst
source of any text used is also cited. and incomplete information, except where deliber-
2014 Sunbeam GmbH
ate or grossly negligent culpability can be proven.
Company entries are the sole responsibility of the Idea and concept
respective company. Sunbeam GmbH

C o n c e p t a d v i s o r, s p e c i a l i s t
advisor and editorial cooperator

German Biogas Association

Legal Information,
(Fachverband Biogas e.V.)
Angerbrunnenstr. 12
85356 Freising

Important Notice and

Germany

Phone
+49 (0)8161 98 46-60

Picture Credits
Telefax
+49 (0)8161 98 46-70

info@biogas.org
www.biogas.org

Managing editor

Picture credits Dr Roland Ernst

Industry profile authors

Companies

The illustrations printed in the company and pub- Christian Dany

lisher profiles (pp. 4893) were supplied by the Thomas Gaul
respective companies, if not otherwise stated. Bernward Janzing
Dierk Jensen
Other parts Christian Mhlhausen
See captions Hinrich Neumann

Infographics and tables

Layout and composition
Data in infographics and tables obtained
derMarkstein.de, Petra Plociennik
from the German Biogas Association.

Photo editor and

image processing

Tom Baerwald

Charts

derMarkstein.de

We b s i t e d e s i g n a n d
editorial system
Photo: Tom Baerwald

Sunbeam GmbH

Tr a n s l a t i o n T h e I n d u s t r y

Sprachwerkstatt Berlin

Print

Druck und Verlagshaus FROMM

GmbH & Co. KG, Osnabrck

climate-neutral

We b s i t e

www.german-biogas-industry.com

97
Foto: muta/Fotolia
photo: muta/Fotolia

Biogas: an all-rounder
Biogas is an all-rounder among re-
newable energies. It can be conver-
ted to electricity and heat or be used
as a fuel and natural gas equivalent.
Germany is the undisputed mar-
ket leader in this versatile and for-
wardlooking industry. Biogas plants
made in germany are in global de-
mand and are preferred because
of their superior technology. They
improve the independence and eco-
nomic strength of municipalities and
regions.
Biogas: an all-rounder
New opportunities for farming, industry and the environment 2015
The first part of Biogas: an all-
rounder contains important facts
and figures concerning biogas pro-
duction and use. The second part
introduces over 60 companies, from
full-line system suppliers to specia-
lised equipment manufacturers and
competent engineering firms
www.german-biogas-industry.com
Biogas
an all-rounder
New opportunities for
farming, industry and the environment
2015 | 4th fully revised edition